A Room with a View — Page 8

English → It Chapter I Level 6/10

Was this really Italy?

Era questa davvero l'Italia?

Miss Bartlett was already seated on a tightly stuffed arm-chair, which had the colour and the contours of a tomato.

Miss Bartlett era già seduta su una poltrona imbottita rigidamente, che aveva il colore e i contorni di un pomodoro.

She was talking to Mr. Beebe, and as she spoke, her long narrow head drove backwards and forwards, slowly, regularly, as though she were demolishing some invisible obstacle.

Stava parlando con il signor Beebe, e mentre parlava, la sua testa lunga e stretta si muoveva avanti e indietro, lentamente, regolarmente, come se stesse demolendo un ostacolo invisibile.

"We are most grateful to you," she was saying.

«Le siamo molto grati,» stava dicendo.

"The first evening means so much.

«La prima serata conta molto.

When you arrived we were in for a peculiarly _mauvais quart d'heure_."

Quando è arrivato, stavamo per vivere un particolarmente _mauvais quart d'heure_.»

He expressed his regret.

Lui espresse il suo dispiacere.

"Do you, by any chance, know the name of an old man who sat opposite us at dinner?"

«Conosce, per caso, il nome di un vecchio che sedeva di fronte a noi a cena?»

"Emerson."

«Emerson.»

"Is he a friend of yours?"

«È un suo amico?»

"We are friendly—as one is in pensions."

«Siamo in buoni rapporti—come si è nelle pensioni.»

"Then I will say no more."

«Allora non dirò altro.»

He pressed her very slightly, and she said more.

Lui la incalzò molto leggermente, e lei disse di più.

"I am, as it were," she concluded, "the chaperon of my young cousin, Lucy, and it would be a serious thing if I put her under an obligation to people of whom we know nothing.

«Sono, per così dire,» concluse, «la chaperon della mia giovane cugina, Lucy, e sarebbe una cosa seria se la mettessi in obbligo verso persone di cui non sappiamo nulla.

His manner was somewhat unfortunate.

Il suo comportamento fu alquanto infelice.

I hope I acted for the best."

Spero di aver agito per il meglio.»

"You acted very naturally," said he.

«Ha agito in modo molto naturale,» disse lui.

He seemed thoughtful, and after a few moments added: "All the same, I don't think much harm would have come of accepting."

Sembrò pensieroso, e dopo qualche momento aggiunse: «Tuttavia, non credo che avrebbe fatto molto male accettare.»

"No _harm_, of course.

«Nessun _danno_, naturalmente.

But we could not be under an obligation."

Ma non potevamo essere in obbligo.»

"He is rather a peculiar man.

«È un uomo piuttosto strano.

Vocabulary

Era: EH-rah — Third person singular past tense of 'essere' (to be).
questa: KWES-tah — Feminine singular demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this'.
davvero: dav-VEH-roh — Adverb meaning 'really' or 'truly'.
l': l — Elided definite article 'il/la' before a vowel.
Italia: ee-TAH-lyah — The country Italy in southern Europe.
già: JAH — Adverb meaning 'already' or 'yes, indeed'.
seduta: seh-DOO-tah — Past participle of 'sedere'; meaning 'seated' or 'sitting'.
su: soo — Preposition meaning 'on', 'upon', or 'on top of'.
una: OO-nah — Feminine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
poltrona: pol-TROH-nah — An armchair or comfortable upholstered chair.
imbottita: im-bot-TEE-tah — Adjective meaning 'padded' or 'upholstered', stuffed with material.
rigidamente: ree-jee-dah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'rigidly' or 'stiffly'.
che: keh — Conjunction or relative pronoun meaning 'that', 'which', or 'who'.
aveva: ah-VEH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'avere', meaning 'had'.
il: eel — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
colore: koh-LOH-reh — Noun meaning 'color' or 'hue'.
e: eh — Conjunction meaning 'and'.
i: ee — Masculine plural definite article meaning 'the'.
contorni: kon-TOR-nee — Noun meaning 'outlines', 'contours', or 'shapes'.
di: dee — Preposition meaning 'of', 'from', or 'by'.
un: oon — Masculine indefinite article meaning 'a' or 'an'.
pomodoro: poh-moh-DOH-roh — Noun meaning 'tomato', a common red fruit-vegetable.
Stava: STAH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'stare', meaning 'was staying/being'.
parlando: par-LAN-doh — Gerund of 'parlare', meaning 'speaking' or 'talking'.
con: kon — Preposition meaning 'with'.
signor: see-NYOR — Honorific title meaning 'Mr.' used before a surname.
mentre: MEN-treh — Conjunction meaning 'while' or 'whereas'.
parlava: par-LAH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'parlare', meaning 'was speaking'.
la: lah — Feminine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
sua: SOO-ah — Feminine singular possessive adjective meaning 'her', 'his', or 'its'.
testa: TES-tah — Noun meaning 'head', the upper part of the body.
lunga: LOON-gah — Feminine adjective meaning 'long'.
stretta: STRET-tah — Feminine adjective meaning 'narrow', 'tight', or 'close'.
si: see — Reflexive pronoun meaning 'oneself', 'himself', 'herself', or 'itself'.
muoveva: mwoh-VEH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'muovere', meaning 'was moving'.
avanti: ah-VAN-tee — Adverb meaning 'forward' or 'ahead'.
indietro: in-DYEH-troh — Adverb meaning 'backward' or 'back'.
lentamente: len-tah-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'slowly'.
regolarmente: reh-goh-lar-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'regularly' or 'steadily'.
come: KOH-meh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'as', 'like', or 'how'.
se: seh — Conjunction meaning 'if' or 'whether'.
stesse: STES-seh — Third person singular imperfect subjunctive of 'stare', meaning 'were being/staying'.
demolendo: deh-moh-LEN-doh — Gerund of 'demolire', meaning 'demolishing' or 'tearing down'.
ostacolo: os-TAH-koh-loh — Noun meaning 'obstacle' or 'hindrance'.
invisibile: in-vee-ZEE-bee-leh — Adjective meaning 'invisible', not able to be seen.
Le: leh — Indirect object pronoun meaning 'to her', 'to you' (formal).
siamo: SYAH-moh — First person plural present of 'essere', meaning 'we are'.
molto: MOL-toh — Adverb or adjective meaning 'very' or 'much'.
grati: GRAH-tee — Masculine plural adjective meaning 'grateful' or 'thankful'.
prima: PREE-mah — Adjective or adverb meaning 'first' or 'before'.
serata: seh-RAH-tah — Noun meaning 'evening' or 'night out'.
conta: KON-tah — Third person singular present of 'contare', meaning 'counts' or 'matters'.
Quando: KWAN-doh — Conjunction or adverb meaning 'when'.
è: EH — Third person singular present of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
arrivato: ar-ree-VAH-toh — Past participle of 'arrivare', meaning 'arrived'.
stavamo: stah-VAH-moh — First person plural imperfect of 'stare', meaning 'we were'.
per: pehr — Preposition meaning 'for', 'through', or 'in order to'.
vivere: VEE-veh-reh — Infinitive verb meaning 'to live' or 'to experience'.
particolarmente: par-tee-koh-lar-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'particularly' or 'especially'.
Lui: LOO-ee — Subject pronoun meaning 'he' or 'him'.
espresse: es-PRES-seh — Third person singular remote past of 'esprimere', meaning 'expressed'.
dispiacere: dis-pyah-CHEH-reh — Noun meaning 'regret', 'sorrow', or 'displeasure'.
Conosce: koh-NOH-sheh — Third person singular present of 'conoscere', meaning 'knows' or 'is acquainted with'.
caso: KAH-zoh — Noun meaning 'case', 'situation', or 'chance'.
nome: NOH-meh — Noun meaning 'name'.
vecchio: VEK-kyoh — Adjective or noun meaning 'old' or 'old man'.
sedeva: seh-DEH-vah — Third person singular imperfect of 'sedere', meaning 'was sitting'.
fronte: FRON-teh — Noun meaning 'front', 'forehead', or 'facing'.
a: ah — Preposition meaning 'at', 'to', or 'in'.
noi: NOY — Subject pronoun meaning 'we' or 'us'.
cena: CHEH-nah — Noun meaning 'dinner' or 'supper'.
È: EH — Third person singular present of 'essere', meaning 'is'.
amico: ah-MEE-koh — Noun meaning 'friend' or 'male friend'.
Siamo: SYAH-moh — First person plural present of 'essere', meaning 'we are'.
in: een — Preposition meaning 'in', 'into', or 'at'.
buoni: BWOH-nee — Masculine plural adjective meaning 'good'.
rapporti: rap-POR-tee — Noun meaning 'relations', 'relationships', or 'reports'.
nelle: NEL-leh — Contraction of 'in' and 'le', meaning 'in the' (feminine plural).
pensioni: pen-SYOH-nee — Noun meaning 'guesthouses', 'boarding houses', or 'pensions'.
Allora: al-LOH-rah — Adverb meaning 'then', 'so', or 'at that time'.
non: non — Adverb of negation meaning 'not'.
dirò: dee-ROH — First person singular future of 'dire', meaning 'I will say'.
altro: AL-troh — Pronoun or adjective meaning 'other', 'else', or 'another'.
incalzò: in-kal-TSOH — Third person singular remote past of 'incalzare', meaning 'pressed on' or 'urged'.
leggermente: lej-jehr-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'slightly', 'lightly', or 'gently'.
lei: LEH-ee — Subject pronoun meaning 'she', 'her', or formal 'you'.
disse: DIS-seh — Third person singular remote past of 'dire', meaning 'said'.
più: PYOO — Adverb meaning 'more' or 'anymore'.
Sono: SOH-noh — First person singular present of 'essere', meaning 'I am'.
così: koh-ZEE — Adverb meaning 'so', 'thus', or 'like this'.
dire: DEE-reh — Infinitive verb meaning 'to say' or 'to tell'.
concluse: kon-KLOO-zeh — Third person singular remote past of 'concludere', meaning 'concluded'.
della: DEL-lah — Contraction of 'di' and 'la', meaning 'of the' (feminine singular).
mia: MEE-ah — Feminine singular possessive adjective meaning 'my'.
giovane: JOH-vah-neh — Adjective or noun meaning 'young' or 'young person'.
cugina: koo-JEE-nah — Noun meaning 'cousin' (female).
sarebbe: sah-REB-beh — Third person singular conditional of 'essere', meaning 'would be'.
cosa: KOH-zah — Noun meaning 'thing' or 'matter'.
seria: SEH-ryah — Feminine adjective meaning 'serious' or 'grave'.
mettessi: met-TES-see — First person singular imperfect subjunctive of 'mettere', meaning 'if I were to put'.
obbligo: OB-blee-goh — Noun meaning 'obligation' or 'duty'.
verso: VER-soh — Preposition meaning 'toward' or 'towards'.
persone: per-SOH-neh — Noun meaning 'people' or 'persons'.
cui: KWEE — Relative pronoun meaning 'whom', 'which', or 'whose'.
sappiamo: sap-PYAH-moh — First person plural present of 'sapere', meaning 'we know'.
nulla: NOOL-lah — Pronoun meaning 'nothing' or 'anything'.
Il: eel — Masculine singular definite article meaning 'the'.
comportamento: kom-por-tah-MEN-toh — Noun meaning 'behavior' or 'conduct'.
fu: foo — Third person singular remote past of 'essere', meaning 'was'.
alquanto: al-KWAN-toh — Adverb meaning 'somewhat' or 'rather'.
infelice: in-feh-LEE-cheh — Adjective meaning 'unhappy', 'unfortunate', or 'unwise'.
Spero: SPEH-roh — First person singular present of 'sperare', meaning 'I hope'.
aver: ah-VEHR — Shortened infinitive of 'avere', meaning 'to have'.
agito: ah-JEE-toh — Past participle of 'agire', meaning 'acted' or 'behaved'.
meglio: MEL-yoh — Adverb meaning 'better'; comparative form of 'bene'.
Ha: ah — Third person singular present of 'avere', meaning 'has' or 'he/she has'.
modo: MOH-doh — Noun meaning 'way', 'manner', or 'method'.
naturale: nah-too-RAH-leh — Adjective meaning 'natural' or 'unaffected'.
lui: LOO-ee — Subject pronoun meaning 'he'.
Sembrò: sem-BROH — Third person singular remote past of 'sembrare', meaning 'seemed'.
pensieroso: pen-syeh-ROH-zoh — Adjective meaning 'thoughtful' or 'pensive'.
dopo: DOH-poh — Preposition or adverb meaning 'after' or 'later'.
qualche: KWAL-keh — Adjective meaning 'some', 'a few', or 'any'.
momento: moh-MEN-toh — Noun meaning 'moment' or 'instant'.
aggiunse: aj-JOON-seh — Third person singular remote past of 'aggiungere', meaning 'added'.
Tuttavia: toot-tah-VEE-ah — Conjunction meaning 'nevertheless', 'however', or 'yet'.
credo: KREH-doh — First person singular present of 'credere', meaning 'I believe' or 'I think'.
avrebbe: ah-VREB-beh — Third person singular conditional of 'avere', meaning 'would have'.
fatto: FAT-toh — Past participle of 'fare', meaning 'done' or 'made'.
male: MAH-leh — Noun or adverb meaning 'badly', 'harm', or 'evil'.
accettare: ah-chet-TAH-reh — Infinitive verb meaning 'to accept' or 'to agree to'.
Nessun: nes-SOON — Adjective meaning 'no', 'none', or 'not any'.
_danno_: DAN-noh — Noun meaning 'damage', 'harm', or 'injury'.
naturalmente: nah-too-ral-MEN-teh — Adverb meaning 'naturally' or 'of course'.
Ma: mah — Conjunction meaning 'but'.
potevamo: poh-teh-VAH-moh — First person plural imperfect of 'potere', meaning 'we could' or 'we were able to'.
essere: ES-seh-reh — Infinitive verb meaning 'to be'.
uomo: WOH-moh — Noun meaning 'man' or 'human being'.
piuttosto: pyoot-TOS-toh — Adverb meaning 'rather', 'quite', or 'instead'.
strano: STRAH-noh — Adjective meaning 'strange', 'odd', or 'unusual'.

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