Story in Italian, level B2
Nine sharp in Bari
Lukas wants to make a good impression in his first week at work.
Watch the video, 55 secondsLukas lavora a Bari da una settimana. La direttrice ha fissato una riunione per lunedì alle nove.
Lukas has been working in Bari for a week. His manager scheduled a meeting for Monday at nine.
Alle nove in punto Lukas è in sala riunioni. Da solo.
At nine sharp, Lukas is in the meeting room. Alone.
Alle nove e dieci controlla l’agenda. Nessun errore.
At ten past nine he checks his diary. No mistake.
Alle nove e venti arriva la direttrice, con un cornetto in mano.
At twenty past nine his manager arrives, holding a pastry.
«Mi scusi, pensavo che la riunione fosse alle nove» dice Lukas.
"Sorry, I thought the meeting was at nine," says Lukas.
«Infatti, alle nove. Se avessi voluto le nove in punto, l’avrei detto.»
"Exactly, at nine. If I had meant nine sharp, I would have said so."
An unreal past condition uses se avessi... and avrei...
Se avessi voluto le nove in punto, l’avrei detto.
If I had meant nine sharp, I would have said so.
Tip
Pensavo che fosse also uses the subjunctive. This manager's joke says nothing about everyone's punctuality.
Do you prefer arriving early or taking it easy? Answer in Italian in the comments.
