Italian Phrase
Mi serve un'altra coperta.
Meaning
The speaker is saying that they need an additional blanket, either because the current one is insufficient, wet, or they simply want more warmth. It’s a polite, straightforward way to make a request.
When to use
Use this sentence in hotels, guest houses, at a friend’s house, or any situation where you need an extra blanket. It works both in formal and informal contexts, but it sounds slightly more formal than ‘Ho bisogno di…’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Miserveun'altracoperta
Mi (indirect object pronoun)
‘Mi’ is the first‑person singular indirect object pronoun, used with verbs that express a need or a request (e.g., servire, bastare).
serve (impersonal verb)
‘Serve’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘servire’ used impersonally: ‘it is needed/required’. The subject is understood from the pronoun ‘mi’.
un'altra (contraction)
‘Un’altra’ is the contraction of ‘una altra’, meaning ‘another’. The apostrophe is mandatory because ‘altra’ begins with a vowel.
coperta (noun)
‘Coperta’ is a feminine singular noun meaning ‘blanket’. Articles and adjectives must agree in gender and number.
🗨In Conversation
Mi serve un'altra coperta.
I need another blanket.
Certo, te la porto subito.
Sure, I’ll bring it to you right away.
✕Common Mistakes
Mi serve un altra coperta.
‘Altra’ starts with a vowel, so it must be contracted to ‘un’altra’ with an apostrophe.
Mi serve una altra coperta.
The article must agree with the contracted form; ‘un’ is used before ‘altra’ because the vowel elision creates a masculine‑looking article.
Mi servi un'altra coperta.
Do not use ‘servi’ (second person) unless you are addressing someone directly. The impersonal construction always uses the third‑person singular.
↔Alternatives
Ho bisogno di un'altra coperta.
I need another blanket.
Mi serve una coperta in più.
I need one more blanket.
Potrei avere un'altra coperta?
Could I have another blanket?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, the verb ‘servire’ with an indirect object pronoun (mi, ti, gli…) is the go‑to construction for expressing needs, especially in service contexts like hotels or restaurants. While ‘avere bisogno di’ is perfectly correct, ‘mi serve…’ sounds a bit more concise and is the phrase you’ll hear most often from staff. Remember the apostrophe in ‘un’altra’; dropping it is a common mistake that makes the phrase sound ungrammatical.