Non penso di poterla riparare.

Sentence Discussions Italian
#1
English Translation

I don’t think I can fix it.

Just to make sure, is this “better” than “Non penso di poter ripararla”?

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#2

This is a great question. Does anyone have an answer?

When you have two verbs like this, what’s the best thing to do with the object pronoun?

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#3

Ciao. Our Italian club madrelingua says both are correct but “poterla” is preferred although truncated “poter ripararla” is also OK.

Good question indeed, it will help me remember “poter…”

A dopo…

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#4

@Floria7 I agree, “poter ripararla” is not wrong, but it is difficult to pronounce because of the two “r”.

I would also consider “riuscire a ripararla” or “riuscirla a riparare”: these two can be used interchangeably.

Also, “riuscire” stresses the meaning of “to be able to” or “to manage to” that I think is appropriate here.

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#5

I always enjoy your consigli, @mike-lima. The more I read the more I notice how much *riuscire is used (in my Camilleri and Ammaniti books).

Buona giornata!

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#6

Thanks again for your insights, @mike-lima.

I imagine that essere in grado di ripararla is also a possibility.

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#7

I found another example where the position of the pronoun is surprising (at least to me):

Non lasciarti scappare questa opportunità.
Don’t let this opportunity pass you by.

Non lasciare scapparti questa opportunità. (?)

Edit: Fixed the mistake. Thank you twice, mike-lima!

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#8

Uhm… Pay attention at the spelling for “lasciarti”: without the i it would be pronounced “laskarti” :smiley:

I can’t find a rule why “lasciare scapparti” would be wrong, but it feels very unnatural.

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