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- "I read him a newspaper."
"I read him a newspaper."
Translation:Io gli leggo un giornale.
38 Comments
I'm confused. Why does 'Gli leggo un giornale' mean that I read HIM the newspaper? Gli is masculine, so I guess that's where the 'him' came from, but since its plural, wouldn't it mean 'them' instead? I'm sorry if I sound stupid, I must be missing something. Could anyone explain? -one confused amateur
I am here too.... I couldn't understand where is here plural noun, or where is here article "l" and "lo" >>>if there used "gli"?! I am confused too. I dont think so that I missed something. maybe it is right but why was not explained in lessons?
I know it seems confusing, at first, and this is covered quite a lot further on in DL Lessons, But the person to whom you are doing an action, is written first. This literarily translates as "Him, I read a paper" or - to him, I read a paper. Also a later lesson on pronouns will clarify, that whilst indeed "Gli" is masculine plural, as in "Gli uomini" (Used as 'the' ) it is also the singular pronoun for 'him' Hope this helps.
The other correct translation shown by DL is "Io gli leggo un giornale" Which is literarily I, Him, read a paper" It is just the way Italian is, and you will soon get used to it...Though it took me quite a while! :)
BTW This post was written after the post which for some reason appears below and states "Nonsense" so is not referring to my post!
There is an implication I am doing it. "LeggO"
io leggO
tu leggI
lui leggE
noi leggiAMO
voi leggETE
loro leggONO
"Gli" = "a lui" (Gli is here a particle - if there is no noun after it, that makes it an article)
The sentence in Italian without implying or using particles would be
"Io leggo a lui un giornale"
The better translation that comes to my mind is the one given by Duo.
"The men read the newspaper" would translate into "Gli uomini leggono il giornale"
Well in that case then Duo Lingo should introduce 'Io leggo a lui un giornale' first. As a lead into ' Gli leggo un giornale'.
This problem introduces a whole new concept of use, while using new vocabulary, that I have not seen before in my italiano progress via Duolingo.
Agreed, that is a great explanation Marziotta :)
the 'a' implies that you are reading to him, that is to say you aren't reading him, but reading to him. We often drop the 'to' in English.
4
I guessed by elimination and i think by assuming words can take multiple used depending on context. it is what we do naturally as children when learning to speak and i just guessed correctly.