"Mia madre fa tardi."
Translation:My mother is late.
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Is there an easy way to know when to use either "fa tardi" "tardi" or "in ritardo"? Thanks!
My boyfriend who is Italian has told me that there is no difference between "fa tardi" and "è in ritardo", except that you can also use "fa tardi" to mean that someone stays up/out until late. So this sentence could also mean my mother stays up/out until late.
"è tardi" is impersonal and cannot be used when the subject of the sentence is a person - it is used in the form "è tardi per + verb" (it is late for ___). If you want to say someone is late it is always "fa tardi". If the subject of a sentence is an object (e.g. the bus is late) you can use "è tardi" but it is more common to use "è in ritardo".
Hope that makes sense.
Fa tardi: you are late but it is something planned, in ritardo: it is something unexpected
I thought that the expression "è in ritardo" was the one used to say that someone "is late". Why is tardi used in this sentence? I want to know too.
I don't get the "fa" instead of "è". Isn't "fa" the verb "fare=do"? Please can anyone clarify that? Thanx!
you mean 'mia madre è tardi'? (don't forget the accent on the e!)
I was thinking the same thing.
how do I do so without searching through all the phrases and hoping I randomly come across irt again in order to click on the "report problem" button?
Half way down, on the left side of your screen, is a "Support" tab you can click on and there you will find a form to fill out detailing your question, concern or problem :)
I thought that "tardi" is used for things and that "in ritardo" is used for people.
- madre = mother
- mamma = mom, mum
- padre = father
- papà = dad
EDIT: I think "mum" is not accepted because it is colloquial form of "mother"
thanks ChristelDK for pointing out my mistake, I've corrected it.
Since the Italian sentence uses "madre" and not "mamma," neither colloquial form in English would be the best translation.
Because "madre" = mother and "mamma" = mom/mum. I also got sentences marked as wrong because of this. I think(this is how I understood) it is because we need to differentiate between the formal and informal terms? I also saw an explanation on another sentence but can't remember which. I hope this helps.
It would be wrong.
Mia madre è tardi is meaningless.
It's either mia madre fa tardi or mia madre è in ritardo.
I think you gotta try it, 'cause no-one is replying that question... neither mine.
can someone answer a few of us who questioned why it isn't mi madre e' tardi
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Unfortunately, I'm not answering your question (which I would have asked as well, re. e and fa,) but could it be that we have to read it as "my mother 'does' late", as in "my mother is always late" - as that is what she does? It did mention that it was used when it's a planned lateness.
The expression is fare tardi. Or essere in ritardo. tardi and in ritardo cannot be swapped.