Story in Italian, level C1
A polite note in Turin
Mia has just moved into an old building and received a complaint.
Watch the video, 53 secondsUna mattina Mia trova un biglietto sotto la porta:
One morning Mia finds a note under her door:
«Gentile signorina, Le sarei grato se volesse evitare di passare l’aspirapolvere dopo le undici di sera.»
"Dear Miss, I would be grateful if you would refrain from vacuuming after eleven at night."
Mia non possiede un aspirapolvere. Possiede, però, un muro sottilissimo.
Mia does not own a vacuum cleaner. She does, however, have a very thin wall.
Così risponde con un biglietto altrettanto cortese:
So she replies with an equally polite note:
«Gentile signor Ferrero, sarei lieta di accontentarLa. Temo, però, che l’aspirapolvere sia Sua moglie.»
"Dear Mr Ferrero, I would be happy to oblige. I fear, however, that the vacuum cleaner is your wife."
The formal Le sarei grato can soften a complaint.
Le sarei grato se volesse evitare…
I would be grateful if you would refrain...
Tip
Capitalising Le, La and Suo is optional in formal writing. Here, extra politeness sharpens the joke.
What would you have written to Mr Ferrero? Answer in Italian in the comments.
