Modern Italian Grammar: A Practical Guide, Third Edition (2013)

Part B. Functions

IV. Putting in context

32. Expressing possibility and probability

32.1 Introduction

This section looks at ways of putting your message in context in a complex sentence. One important context is that of possibility and probability: saying how certain or how likely it is that something has happened/is happening/will happen.

On the whole, we can separate statements of possibility or probability into two broad categories: those which represent a personal opinion or subjective point of view (‘I think’, ‘we believe’), and those which represent an impersonal or objective point of view, whether proved or otherwise (‘it seems’, ‘it is likely’).

The first category — personal opinion or subjective point of view — is covered in Chapter 27 and in 29.2–5 and involves verbs such as credere, essere certo/sicuro, pensare, ritenere, sembrare, sapere.

In this chapter we look at the second category, the impersonal or objective point of view.

32.2 Certainty, uncertainty

The adjectives certo, sicuro can be used impersonally, along with essere, to express the English ‘it is certain’ (compare with their more personalised use illustrated in 29.3). They are followed by a verb in the indicative mood:

È certo che la vita è più cara in Italia.

It's certain that life is dearer in Italy.

È sicuro che lui prende il posto.

It's certain that he will get the job.

When used in the negative (non è sicuro), they should be followed by a verb in the subjunctive:

Non è certo che la vita sia più cara in Italia.

It's not certain that life is dearer in Italy.

Non è sicuro che lui prenda il posto.

It's not certain that he will get the job.

È certo (che), è sicuro (che) can be replaced by the adverbs or adverbial phrases certamente, sicuramente, di sicuro:

Certamente la vita è più cara in Italia.

Certainly life is dearer in Italy.

Sicuramente non prende il posto.

Certainly he won't get the job.

Di sicuro lo vediamo domani.

We'll certainly see him tomorrow.

Note the difference in degree of certainty between the two negative statements: Non è sicuro che lui prenda il posto, where the subjunctive expresses doubt, and Sicuramente non prende il posto, in which no doubt is expressed and the indicative is used.

32.3 Knowing, not knowing

Sapere can also be used with an impersonal subject si ‘one’, as in the expression si sa (see also 2.1.12 and 19.5). Normally it is followed by an indicative tense. As with certo, sicuro, however, when sapere is used in the negative, it should be followed by the subjunctive, expressing some uncertainty. In informai speech, some speakers may choose to use the indicative.

Si sa che gli inglesi sono molto riservati.

It is generally known that the English are reserved.

Non si sa se gli ostaggi siano ancora vivi.

It is not known if the hostages are still alive.

Non sappiamo se 1a Ferrari sia migliorata.

We don't know if the Ferrari team has improved. (www.tuttosport.com, retrieved 13 March 2012)

32.4 Possible or impossible, probable or improbable

Certain adjectives can be used with the verb essere to form impersonal phrases, followed by a verb infinitive, in which no specific person or object is mentioned:

È impossibile imparare l'italiano.

It is impossible to learn Italian.

The most common impersonal phrases are the following:

These four adjectives can also be used simply to refer to a person or an object: è una persona difficile ‘she is a difficult person’, è un compito impossibile ‘it is an impossible task’.

The four impersonal phrases above can be followed either by a verb infinitive, or by che and a dependent clause.

In a general statement, where no individual subject is mentioned, these impersonal phrases are followed directly by a verb infinitive:

È possibile mangiare fuori?

Is it possible to eat outside?

È impossibile completare questi ordini prima della fine del mese.

It's impossible to complete these orders before the end of the month.

È facile imparare l'italiano.

It's easy to learn Italian.

È difficile organizzare una vacanza per la famiglia.

It's difficult to organise a holiday for the family.

When a specific subject needs to be mentioned (for example ‘you’, ‘the hotel’), you need to use che, introducing a verb in the subjunctive to express uncertainty:

È possibile che tu abbia dormito fino a mezzogiorno?

Is it really possible that you slept to midday?

È impossibile che i conti siano sbagliati.

It's impossible that the accounts are wrong.

È possibile che can be replaced by the idiomatic phrase può darsi (‘it may be, it may happen’), followed by a che clause, usually with a verb in the subjunctive:

Può darsi che la segretaria l'abbia già mandata.

It may be that the secretary has already sent it.

In addition to their literal meaning shown above (‘it's easy’, ‘it's difficult’), è facile, è difficile can also convey the meaning of ‘it's likely’, ‘it's unlikely’, in which context they are always followed by che and the subjunctive:

È facile che il contabile sbagli.

It's easy (likely) for the accountant to make mistakes.

È difficile che loro arrivino prima di pranzo.

It's unlikely that they will arrive before lunch.

Two further impersonal phrases can be followed by che and the subjunctive (but not by a verb infinitive):

È probabile che l'albergo sia pieno.

It is likely that the hotel will be full.

È poco probabile che lui l'abbia rubato.

It's not very likely that he stole it.

È improbabile che facciano una vacanza in montagna.

It's unlikely that they will have a holiday in the mountains.

The expressions si dice, dicono ‘one says’, ‘they say’ are used to report what someone said, but since this is hearsay (see also 31.4) rather than a fact, they are followed by the subjunctive:

Si dice che Joan Collins abbia fatto il lifting varie volte.

It is said that Joan Collins has had several facelifts.

32.5 Evident, obvious

Impersonal phrases which express certainty, rather than probability, include:

These expressions, by their very nature, always express certainty, so are followed by the indicative:

È chiaro che l'autore scrive di una sua esperienza personale.

It is clear that the author is writing about a personal experience.

Era evidente che l'impiegato non era in grado di svolgere quella funzione.

It was obvious that the employee was not able to carry out that function.

NOTE For guidance on which tense to use in the dependent clauses, see 30.5 and Appendix V.