Tutorial Transcript

Hello everyone and welcome back to my channel! I have a new language lesson for you today. It will be an interesting topic, I think. Because I have received some questions about it, one of which I report here on the screen, because it is one of the most recent that I remembered to screenshot. So, today's dilemma is: why Italians say "Io vado", for example, but also "Vado io". That is, why is the subject pronoun also placed after the verb in some sentences? I can say "Io vado". I use the verb "andare" simply for example purposes. I can also say "Vado io". The context changes. So, let's see this sentence first. We know that in Italian the (standard) order of the words in a sentence is subject verb object. In this case we are respecting this order: "Io" subject, "vado" verb. The object is missing, but this sentence nonetheless can stand alone, it makes sense. "Io vado", we can say it when someone leaves the house: "okay, then see you afterwards, I'm going out " and the person leaves. Or another example: "I go to the supermarket everyday"- which is not a statement very far from the reality for me, though - "I go to the supermarket every week" it is a statement. I write a letter I read a book I pay the bills I go to the supermarket I go to the post office etc They are simply linear statements, they are the classic sentences that are built in Italian. The subject pronoun in a standard sentence can also be omitted, because in Italian - since verbs are conjugated depending on the person - we understand who the subject of the sentence is simply by looking at the verb. Then the doubt arises when looking at this second example. "Vado io!" You should already notice how the pitch with which I pronounce this sentence changes. This sentence can be found in more of a broad context, for example: If you can't go to the supermarket, then I'll go. If you can't make it to the post office, then I'll go. If you don't have time to prepare lunch, then I'll make it. From these three examples, what have you noticed? You might have noticed that there is a contrast between those who perform the action and those who don't. Hence, we put the subject pronoun after the verb to reinforce the fact that I am I doing this thing, not somebody else. Hence it is a strengthening use of the subject pronoun. Obviously this is true for every subject pronouns. Not just for "io". You can apply this information to all subject pronouns. Let's have a look at another example: He didn't let me know anything, she took it upon herself to warn me. There is a strong contrast, he doesn't do what she does. It was her who warned me. In summary: the subject pronoun is postponed to the verb when you want to underline that someone is doing the action, someone specifically, and not just anybody. All right? I hope I have explained this linguistic point in a comprehensive and satisfactory way for you. Let me know in the comments below if you have further questions. Thanks, as always, for watching this lesson. See you in the next one! See you soon, bye!

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