Question 1

Could we use a pronominal verb from this lesson, like finirla or smetterla, instead of mettere fine?

Accepted Answer

It would sound very unnatural here. Verbs like finirla and smetterla are highly informal and generally carry a tone of annoyance, translating closer to "cut it out" or "knock it off." For an official or neutral action like a government ending a strike, the fixed phrase mettere fine a (to put an end to) is the correct choice.

Question 2

Why is there no article before fine in ha messo fine?

Accepted Answer

The phrase mettere fine a is a fixed expression. In Italian, many verbs paired with specific nouns drop the article so they function together as a single unit of meaning, similar to "to take place" or "to lose hope" in English.

Question 3

I know the word fine can mean both "end" and "purpose". How do we know which one it is here?

Accepted Answer

The fixed expression mettere fine a specifically means "to put an end to." It is also helpful to remember that when fine means "end", it is a feminine noun (la fine), but when it means "purpose" or "goal", it is masculine (il fine).

Question 4

Why does the sentence use the combined preposition allo before sciopero?

Accepted Answer

The expression mettere fine must be followed by the preposition a (to put an end to). Because the masculine noun sciopero starts with an "impure s" (an s followed by another consonant, the c), it requires the definite article lo. Combining a and lo gives us allo.

Il governo ha messo fine allo sciopero.

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