explanation vocabulary / grammar video show / hide
Video 002 :: translation :: grammar explications :: vocabulary
Berlino, 5 luglio 2009 = Berlin, the 5th of july, 2009 Devo scrivere quello che ho visto = I must describe the things I have seen Non posso dimenticarlo = I can' t forget that Lasciatemi sola col mio diario = Let me alone with my diary
2.26.2
Accent marks to indicate the word stress
Everyone who has ever seen an Italian text knows that there are exceptions to what has been said before. There are a few cases where the accent is mandatory. If the word stress falls on the last syllable the accent is mandatory and in that case there is even a distinction between a closed and an open o (see 2.17 The 'o') and an open and close e (see 2.7 The 'e').
If the last syllable is a closed e (as in the English words end, expression) than an accento acuto (what is called in French accent d' aigu) is mandatory: é.
closed e
perché = why
affinché = in order to
If the word stress is on the last syllable and the word ends with an open e an accento grave is mandatory.
open e
caffè = coffee
If the word stress is on the last syllable and the word ends with an o it is always an open o, an o pronounced without rounding the lips, and an accento grave is mandatory.
open o
però = but
comprò = he bought (the passato remoto doesn' t correspond to the simple past)
other words with the words stress on the last syllable
