"Lei cosa prova per il marito?"
Translation:What does she feel for her husband?
26 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
No one has answered those who have asked why "Lei" begins this sentence. It seems to be Duolingo's way of showing us how one might give emphasis to a subject. This could easily have been "Cosa lei prova per il marito?" Putting the "Lei" first is like saying in English, "And her - what does she feel for her husband?" Of course you have to provide a context - but that's easy. So - Italian speakers, am I anywhere near correct? :-)
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I am under the impression that you actually cannot have 'lei' after 'cosa'.
Questions using question words like cosa/dove/qual need to have the subject pronouns at the beginning or end of the sentences, as far as I can tell (or just omit them entirely)
So is 'cosa prova' a way of saying 'he/she feels? I thought prova was he/she tries?
Both. And more!
Provare = to taste something (Provo la minestra)
Provare = to try something (Provo il nuovo computer)
Provare = to try clothes (Provo un vestito nel camerino)
Provare (dei sentimenti) PER qualcuno = Feel (feelings) for somebody (Provo qualcosa per lui)
If you see "per" connected to a person, there is a good chance we are speaking about feelings, if they fit the context.
thank you, very helpful! but the other 'correct' answer given: "What does she try about the husband" is clearly not a correct sentence in English.
So how do we know that 'il' marito is 'her' husband? we have learnt that it is usual to leave out the definite article when speaking about family members - why not in this case?
We can also say "Lei sente qualcosa per il marito?"
But we abuse of the verb "sentire", and then we use another verb... that is used pretty often as well. :/
Thank you for the above explanation. The many uses of so many verbs can be very confusing.
Julia2028 - Yes, I also tend to agree with you. When I "cut" the sentence down into German, it seems to make sense, because it translates into: "what does she feel for the husband". So for one it would explain why there is not "il suo" and also why there is "il marito", as in this context it seems somehow unpersonal, meaning not directly speaking of "her" husband, but rather of "the" husband.
I think that the Italian sentence is poorly constructed. I would translate "What does she feel for her husband" as "Che cosa si sente per suo marito?" or "Che cosa sente lei per suo marito?"
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"what does she try for the husband?" was accepted and I couldn't help feel like this was sexual :P
I've now seen cosa after a word twice, and I've never seen this before, could someone please explain why that is, I'm having some trouble grasping this concept. thank you very much. Also is this just for stress, since it is a very serious question or could be depending on the context?
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I heard "trova" so, of course, it was incorrect- but does it still make sense to use it that way? As in "What has she found for her husband?""
Why is "lei" before "cosa", when generating a question don't the interrogative nouns or adverbs go before? At least that's how it is in English & Spanish
I tried several different online translators, and nothing that came out in English made any sense. The closest thing to making sense was something like "what do you do for her husband?"
why "il" marito ... I thought when it was singular no article is to be used???
