"Vuole che tu mangi una mela."
Translation:She wants you to eat an apple.
48 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
Yes, I translated this sentence as "She wants that you eat the apple." But given the fact that it didn't sound right, I told myself it must translate as "She wants you to eat the apple." I seem to use intuition in translating a great deal of Italian sentences on this site. I hope that's okay in trying to learn this language (or any language). The trouble is given my bad memory, I may not do this when actually speaking Italian with someone (if I ever get to that point), and then, I'll believe that what I'm hearing makes no sense at all. I really want to learn Italian, but I'm in danger of throwing in the towel, as there seem to be so many inconsistencies with the language. Of course, I may feel this way because I'm not a native Italian speaker. Perhaps, there are no inconsistencies whatsoever. I am also tired of all the subtle differences in meaning; it's very difficult to keep them all straight. I really hope I don't quit. Thank God for all the people who weigh in on everything, and for everyone who seems to have the same questions as I do.
That is true, but as a speaker of foreign languages, we have to recognize that Italian, as well as other languages, are easier to learn if we think in their syntax. "He wants you to eat an apple" is literally "Ti vuole mangiare una mela" but that doesn't translate well. If "He wants that you eat an apple" sounds like old-english, then Italian will be easier to learn if you think in old-english.
No, you only use the infinitive if it's the same subject wanting to do the action. "Voglio mangiare una mela" - I want to eat the apple. If it's one subject wanting another subject to do the action, you have to use che, and "mangi" here is actually the subjunctive form of the verb mangiare. Vuole che tu mangi una mela. He wants (one subject) that you (other subject) eat an apple.
Modern English doesn't make it clear that it's one subject wanting another subject to do something (He wants you to eat the apple), so it's understandable why one would naturally want to use the infinitive.
Hi, just to say, it does get easier. i used to get so frustrated because i was trying to translate sentences word for word while thinking...but it doesnt make sense and i wouldnt say it like that in English. This sentence sounds weird at first but soon, it will just sound natural. It is a new language. Not weird, just different. It cant be translated, word for word. It doesnt matter what we would say in English. We are learning italian :)
1133
It would be obvious in context: this is the farmer/ farmer's wife. He / she wants you to eat an apple
879
Vuole could easily be translated as "He wants" too. Then why am I marked wrong? There's no gender specificity in the sentence.