"Fra cinquanta giorni la prigione chiude."
Translation:In fifty days the prison closes.
75 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
I am confused! "In fifty days the prison closes" means that on the 50th day the prison will close and not before. "The prison closes within (the next) 50 days" means that the prison will close at sometime in the next 50 days. These are two different meanings, but which is the meaning in the sentence? I thought that "la prigione chiude in cinquanta giorni would be the first sentence but how to express the second meaning? Fra / tra means between /among / in / amid / within / betwixt; this indicates to me that fra here means within the next 50 days ie the second sentence above. Clarification would be helpful please.
21
When the sentence starts with fra and a number it means "in".
When fra is in the middle of the sentence, then it means "among" or within.
Fra cinquanta giorni la prigione chiude (in 50 days, exactly)
La prigione chiude fra cinquanta giorni (within 50 days)
At least I'm pretty sure; I could still be incorrect, though. I'm not Italian.
276
Duo doesn't understand ye jolly olde English: "In 50 days the gaol closes" was marked wrong. Outrageous!
1374
I feel like the reflexive "la prigione si chiude" would be more accurate. The prison is closed, or the prison closes itself.
When I listen to the phrase, the last two words dropped off into a muddle of incomprehensible sound. It seems that repeatedly the last couple of words lose volume and become mumbled. I've been complaining in the discussion board about the quality of sound (bit rate is definitely too low, which is why it isn't sharp and clear) - and I hear that the Italian phrases we are listening to now is an incredible improvement, and one of the best on duo lingo. Is anyone else having issues with the quality of the sound.
2955
Sure you can use it....................... if there is a prison near you, and it's closing in 50 days.