Breakdown of Smettila di piagnucolare per ogni piccola cosa.
piccolo
small
la cosa
the thing
per
for / in order to / because of
ogni
every
di
to (linking a verb to a following infinitive)
smetterla
to stop it
piagnucolare
to whine
Questions & Answers about Smettila di piagnucolare per ogni piccola cosa.
What is the base verb of smettila, and why is there a la attached to it?
The base verb is the pronominal verb smetterla. It is formed from smettere (to stop or quit) plus the fixed feminine pronoun la. In this context, la does not replace a specific noun; it acts as an idiomatic part of the expression meaning 'to stop it' or 'to cut it out.' Smettila is the informal command form for a single person.
Why do we use di after smettila?
The verb smettere, as well as its pronominal form smetterla, requires the preposition di when it is followed by an infinitive verb. Therefore, 'to stop doing something' translates to smettere di fare qualcosa.
How does the verb piagnucolare relate to the standard word for crying?
Piagnucolare is an altered verb derived from piangere (to cry). The suffix -ucolare adds a diminutive and slightly derogatory or repetitive meaning, successfully changing the action from 'to cry' into 'to whine,' 'to snivel,' or 'to whimper.'
The current lesson covers non fare altro che (to do nothing but). How would you use that structure to describe the behavior of the person being spoken to here?
If you want to describe their constant whining, you could say non fai altro che piagnucolare (you do nothing but whine). Notice that while smetterla requires the preposition di before an infinitive, non fare altro che connects directly to the infinitive without any preposition.
Why does the sentence use per instead of su for 'about every little thing'?
In Italian, the preposition per is used to express the cause or reason behind an emotional reaction, such as crying, whining, or getting angry. While English typically uses 'about' or 'over,' Italian grammar treats 'every little thing' as the direct cause of the whining, hence the use of per.
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