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4
votes
1 answer
Why the letter q for the line equation y = mx + q? Is it used only in Italian?
I realized that in my code I am using the letter q for the axis intercept, while my non Italian colleagues use the letter b or n (luckily for the slope we all use m).
Is the use of q specific to Italian? Where does it come from?
Interestingly I…
laika
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4
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Differenza tra 'di Russia' e 'della Russia'
Ciao a tutti,
C'è qualche differenza tra 'di Russia' e 'della Russia'? Ho letto da qualche parte che con i paesi vicini all'Italia si usa 'di' e con quelli lontani si usa 'di + articolo'. È vero?
Grazie!
Andrey
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4
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Is alcuno/nessuno optional in "non ne ho alcuno/nessuno"?
AFAIK the question/negative with uncountable nouns is expressed as follows:
Hai dello zucchero? (= Do you have any sugar?)
Non ne ho (alcuno/nessuno). (= I don't have any)
Is alcuno/nessuno indeed optional?
What about countable nouns? Could I use…
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
1 answer
Differenza tra "verdura" e "ortaggio"
Is there any difference in meaning between "verdura" and "ortaggio" ?
Regarding their number inflexion, if I got it right, "verdura" is used in the singular even when it means the plural, "ortaggio" not. Is that right?
Examples:
La patata è la…
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
1 answer
Significato di "capelli spiritati"
Nel racconto Superino di Beppe Fenoglio ho letto:
Te lo ricordi questo guardiacaccia?
Lo ricordavo chiaramente, sebbene l’avessi visto pochissime volte e fossero trascorsi tre anni. Era sui cinquant’anni, piccolo e secco, la testa…
Charo
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4
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2 answers
A cosa devo il motivo [...]?
In "Young Pope" miniseries there is a scene where Tonino Pettola gets surprised in his house by a visit from the pope and his cardinals. Upon noticing them he asks:
"A cosa devo il motivo di questa visita?"
Is 'il motivo' really necessary in this…
Tad Vogatt
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4
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1 answer
Does a weekday preceded with a plural definite article express regular events?
I know that "il martedì" in "il martedì mangio formaggio" means "on Tuesdays" (a regular event). Could I say "i martedì mangio formaggio" instead ? I have read it for the first time today and I am not sure if it is correct.
Alan Evangelista
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4
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1 answer
Weekday preceded or not with "di"
Is there any difference between "sabato" and "di sabato"? Example:
Tornerà sabato.
Tornerà di sabato.
Do both imply that I'm talking about the next Saturday?
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
2 answers
Cos'è "la vedetta" in "Bastardi senza gloria" di Quentin Tarantino?
In "Bastardi senza gloria" di Quentin Tarantino, vi è una scena in cui il tenente Aldo Raine (Brad Pitt) ed i suoi commando si travestono da operatori di una troupe cinematografica italiana ed incontrano il colonnello Hans Landa delle SS (Christoph…
Easymode44
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votes
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How to capture a possible figure of speech with "E se io fossi vago" in translation?
In trying to exactly capture the meaning of the following passage, I struggle to choose the correct words and have doubts remaining:
E se io fossi vago (il che non è), di introdurre in Italia il capitalismo di Stato o il socialismo di Stato, che è…
LаngLаngС
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4
votes
2 answers
Meaning of "Invece credo di sì"
I heard the following dialogue in a TV series:
Woman: Proverò a sentirlo, ma purtroppo non so dove sia.
Gangster: Io invece credo di sì.
Context: The dialogue is about a priest who is missing. The woman tells the gangster she does not know where…
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
2 answers
Di tempo ormai ce n'è poco
I have heard the following line in a TV series:
Di tempo ormai ce n'è poco
The translation in the English subtitle was "Time is running out". Is there any difference in meaning between it and "il tempo ormai sta finendo" ? Why is "ne" used here?
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
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Word order in question sentence seems non-typical
I'm a beginner in Italian so the question is somewhat basic.
I previously thought that there were two possible word orders for question sentences:
1) When person asking makes an assumption about the subject, the word order stays the same as if it…
UtterlyRocked
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4
votes
1 answer
Significato dell’espressione “avere il minimo alto”
I have heard the following sentence in an Italian TV series:
Sono 'sti cazzo de Adami che hanno il minimo alto.
The speaker is a gangster and he is talking about one of his men, which was beaten up by a guy from the rival Adami family the night…
Alan Evangelista
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4
votes
1 answer
Per mesi stette dietro al mio nemico - meaning of "stare dietro"
I have read the following sentence:
Per mesi stette dietro al mio nemico.
What could "stare dietro" mean here? "to keep an eye on somebody", "to follow", something else ? I have read…
Alan Evangelista
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