Commosso dalla Storia: A Deep Expression for Talking about Emotions

Have you ever watched a movie, read a book, or listened to a story and felt a lump in your throat, a warmth in your chest? That’s the sensation of being deeply touched by a narrative. In Italian, to describe this exact emotion, we often use the expression "commosso dalla storia". This phrase not only enriches your Italian vocabulary, but also allows you to speak like a native by expressing complex emotional nuances. Keep reading to learn its meaning, grammatical rules, and how to use it correctly in every context.

Table of Contents

• What does “commosso dalla storia” mean?
• The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes
• Real-Life Examples with “commosso dalla storia”
• Related Words and Expressions
• Conclusion

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What does “commosso dalla storia” mean?

• Commosso: Past participle of the verb commuovere. It means "deeply moved by an emotion, usually compassionate or tender". The verb comes from the Latin commovēre, "to move together", "to stir".
• Dalla: Articulated preposition, formed from da + la. The preposition "da" here indicates the cause or agent that provoked the emotion.
• Storia: Story, narration of facts or events, real or imagined.
• Overall meaning: Feeling a deep emotion or inner stir, often tender or compassionate in nature, in response to a narrative, a recounted event, or a situation that deeply touches one’s sensitivity.

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The Grammar Behind the Phrase: Rules and Common Mistakes

• Adjective Agreement: The adjective "commosso" must agree in gender and number with the subject of the sentence. This is fundamental in Italian grammar:
  • Masculine singular: "Sono commosso dalla storia." (I)
  • Feminine singular: "È commossa dalla storia." (she)
  • Masculine plural: "Siamo commossi dalla storia." (we, if all male or mixed)
  • Feminine plural: "Erano commosse dalla storia." (they, if all female)
• The preposition "DA": This is the correct preposition to indicate the cause of "commosso". It shows where the emotion comes from. According to the Accademia della Crusca, "da" is often used to indicate the efficient cause or origin of an emotion or state of mind, as in "commosso da" or "preso da".
• Common mistakes to avoid: A frequent mistake is to use the preposition "di" or "per" instead of "da".
  • Incorrect: "Sono commosso di la storia."
  • Incorrect: "È commossa per la storia." (although "per" can indicate cause, "da" is more specific and common for "commosso" when talking about what triggers the emotion).
  • Correct: "Siamo commossi dalla storia che ci hai raccontato."

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Real-Life Examples with “commosso dalla storia”

Here are some examples of adjectival sentences showing how "commosso dalla storia" is used in natural contexts:

• Dialogue 1: A film that touches the heart

  • Person A: "So, what did you think of the last movie we watched last night?"
  • Person B: "I have to admit I was commosso dalla storia. It was so well told and the actors were excellent."

• Dialogue 2: A personal tale

  • Person A: "I’ve just finished reading my grandmother’s memoirs, it’s incredible what she went through."
  • Person B: "I understand, I imagine you’re commossa dalla storia of her life, it’s a precious treasure."

• Example 3: News that strikes a chord

  • "After reading the article about the boy who saved his dog, I was truly commosso dalla storia of their bond."

• Example 4: An emotional historical event

  • "Visiting the memorial, everyone present was deeply commossi dalla storia of the victims and their sacrifice."

Related Words and Expressions

Here are other expressions that can help you describe similar feelings, enriching your range of Italian adjectives and adjectival phrases:

Conclusion

"Commosso dalla storia" is a beautiful and precise expression to describe a deep and genuine emotion. Mastering this phrase will not only help you avoid common mistakes in Italian, but also let you express your feelings more richly and speak Italian in a more natural and engaging way. It’s an important step in your journey to learn Italian.

Now it’s your turn! Do you have a film, book, or memory that left you commosso dalla storia? Share your example in the comments below!