45 Comments
I had 'Now I've begun to understand', and it was marked as wrong... shouldn't that be correct?
337
I put this as well, and it was marked wrong. Would love some clarification.
Your answer too much based on the dictionary. "Now I understand it" is not the same as "I understand it now". In the first case you can use "allora", in the second can it only can be "ora".
Both allora and poi can be translated as "then", but they are not synonyms.
Allora can have a cause-effect connotation, whereas poi is more temporal, meaning just "subsequently".
Quindi has a wider meaning and includes both of these.
Besides, allora also means "then" as in "at that time" (a quel tempo / a quei tempi).
That would be "da allora" (da quel momento sounds better), expressing "since then (since that moment)" with a time meaning. "Allora" simply means "then", with a mixed undefinite causal/time meaning.
What is the difference: a capire, per capire and di capire?? When do we use them?
it is not about "capire" but about the verb that goes before it) here it is "cominciare" which requires "a" after it and before the following infinitive
- 12
This sentence says "a capire" instead of "di capire". Is "di" the correct usage?
As Pemberley said, it depends on the verb before the infinitive.
To start to understand = cominciare a capire
To try to understand = cercare di capire (but also provare a capire).
- 511
It has the same meaning but 'allora' is a bit more general, 'at that moment' refers to a specific point in time and is a set phrase. For instance with 'he carried on coming home later everyday, then i began to understand', 'then' refers to a period of time rather than a single point
- 285
Why is it 'a capire' ? Capire means to understand, so the sentence, literally translated, is 'Then I started to to understand'.
Actually, to understand can be translated as a capire, di capire, per capire and simply capire.
Why are there 'a capire' and 'per capire' ? How to know which is right for each sentence?
Which preposition has to be used depends on the first verb of the construction. They usually are A and DI, while PER is used in final sentences (don't know if that's what they are called in English, sentences expressing a goal/purpose).
Allora cominciai a capire = Then I started to understand.
Allora cercai di capire = Then I tried to understand.
Allora studiai per capire = Then I studied to understand (so that I could u.)
What is wrong with "From then on I started to understand." when "From then on" is given as a hint for "Allora"
That would translate as "avevo cominciato". That tense expresses a past"er" action that happened before a past action.
@fariz
I've heard it used that way, but not in the strictest sense. It seems more closely translated to "well then"
- 1554
ALLORA ho cominciato/iniziato a capire. Allora takes the meaning of 1.From that moment, from then on. 2. Then. 3.At that moment 4. At that point. But staying near to the Italian sentence, Duo should choose only then/from then on. Because the other variants have a translation on their own. AT THAT MOMENT: Da quel momento ho cominciato a capire. AT THAT POINT: A questo punto, ho cominciato a capire.
So I started to understand is correct (according to Mr. Duo), but So I have started to understand is not? Does anyone know why the second isn't acceptable?
- 12
for present perfect tense (passato prossimo), you will use either a form of "avere" (in this case "ho cominciato" for "i have started") or "essere" in combination with the verb form for things that happened in the recent past. "cominciato", as the passato prossimo conjugation for first person, isn't valid on its own.
I put "So I have begun to understand", which was marked wrong. "So I began to understand" was the 'correct' answer given. "Ho cominciato" surely translates as "have begun", and if not, why the Hell not? I do see there is a difference in meaning, but I don't see why it's not "have begun". I have not begun to understand!
Since I'm a girl would i say ho cominciata? Or would it still be ho cominciato?
