Example sentences from Jennifer Pudney's book, with suggested translations:
(4)
Dal dicembre prossimo dovremo calcolare una diminuzione delle ore lavorative
giornaliere.
→ Starting
this/next/in/from December // From [next] December onward we will have to
calculate/allow for/take into account a reduction in the daily working hours//
in the hours of the workday.
(6)
Ci è stato detto di riprovare fra sei mesi.
→ We were/have been told to try again in six
months// in six months’ time.
(7)
Non avresti potuto dirmi la tua vera ragione per aver rifiutato l'invito?
→ Couldn’t you have told me your real reason
for refusing the invitation?
(8)
Non solo dovrebbe chiedere scusa, dovrebbe anche pagare i danni.
→ Not only should he apologize, he should also
pay for the damage.
(9) Da troppo tempo aspetto sue notizie.
Sarebbe ora che scrivesse.
→ I’ve been waiting to hear from him for too
long. It’s [about] time he wrote.
(10) John mi chiese quando sarebbero arrivati gli ospiti
e Dove avrebbero trovato alloggio.
→ John asked me when the guests would arrive
and where they would stay/be put up // where they were going to stay // where
they could find accomodation.
(11) Mentre si spogliava si rese conto di non
aver chiuso a chiave la porta.
→ While he/she was undressing/getting
undressed, he/she realized [that] he/she hadn’t locked the door.
(12) Pensavo di non dover fare quel lavoro.
→ I didn’t think I had to do that job.// I
thought I didn’t have to do that job.
(13) Se gli avessimo detto la verità, avrebbe
scoperto di non essere il vero vincitore.
→ If we had told/him the truth, he/she would have
realized/found out [that] he/she wasn’t the real winner.
(14) Il testimone disse di aver visto la
vittima scendere dal treno, uscire dalla stazione e salire in macchina.
→ The witness said he saw/had seen the victim get
off the train, leave/ exit/ go out of the station and get into a/the car.
(15)
Sono rimasto sorpreso che le notizie fossero così buone.
→ I was/am surprised [that] the news was so good.
(16)
Non farò niente finché non avrò ricevuto ulteriori istruzioni.
→ I won’t do anything until I receive/I’ve
received further/additional instructions.
(17)
Ieri siamo arrivati entrambi presto alla stazione in modo da prenotare un posto
migliore.
→ Yesterday we arrived at the station early in
order to book/reserve a better seat.
(18)
La maggior parte degli studenti trova che le frasi sono difficili.
→ The majority of the // Most of the students
find the sentences [to be] difficult // think [that] the sentences are
difficult.
(19)
Non erano d’accordo sulla politica e ognuno voleva dimostrare di avere ragione.
→ The didn’t
agree on politics, and each [one] wanted to show/demonstrate he was right.
(21)
Chi crede di sapere tutto dimostra di non capire niente.
→ Those who think they know everything, [actually]
show/demonstate they know nothing// haven’t understood anything.
OR: He who thinks he knows everything, [actually]
shows/demonstates he knows nothing// hasn’t understood anything.
