"Il gatto va sopra il tavolo."

Translation: The cat goes on top of the table.

[formaggiamente]

The default English translation leaves me with the impression that somebody's about to have cats for dinner, and the speaker is giving instructions to a wait[er/ress] on how to prepare the dining table.

[stefanokeywest]

"The cat goes above the table" is how I learned this. I was taught that "sopra" and "sottto" are opposites. One is above and one is below. Just like "su" and "giu" are up and down.

[RomancePhilology]

Who taught you that? I’d like to know who spreads this nonsense.

[ThinkerDreamer]

I put "The cat gets on the table" because "The cat goes on the table" sounds wrong in American English. It almost sounds like you're using a euphemism to say that the cat pees on the table: "goes".

This was my last heart... :(((

[eisalehi]

I agree: "The cat goes onto the table" would sound more natural. You were robbed; have a heart, so to speak.

[jhfenton]

I agree and just reported it. But after 4 years, I'm not optimistic that they're going to listen to us.

But I also would never say the "The cat goes on the table." to mean that the cat physically moves onto the table.

[OlderThanRome]

"The cat walks on the table" is not accepted either :(

(Venting frustration)

[GuerraAmanda]

That would be "il gatto camina sopra il tavolo", no? xD

[Pratica]

I'm curious, when is it best to use "sul" vs "sopra"?

[marymaryboberry]

I was wondering the same thing! I was under the impression that "su" was "on top of" while "sopra" was "above." However, this sentence proves that Duolingo disagrees, and now I'm confused.

[Marninger]

I think sul = on and sopra = over / above

[RomancePhilology]

They are synonymous.

[RCaolsek]

Why not "the cat walks on top of the table"?

[norill1]

This is the official translation now

[mcgaoth]

Where do i put the roasted cat? "It goes on the table." How is the car going home? "On the table of course!".

[Leo107240]

Exactly. The only idiomatic English meaning I can decipher out of this translation. So what does this really mean in Italian? Can somebody explain that?

[PinkledOnion]

I put 'the cat goes on top of the table' and was marked correct. Bad cat! =^.^=

[davidstorey1]

Can you say 'il gatto è sopra il tavolo?'

[Marninger]

Think that would translate back to something like "the cat is on top of the table".

[wenhama]

What's wrong with gets on top

[hannaesp]

I also wrote goes onto the table. should be correct.

[SMCave]

The cat goes onto the table - should be allowed