Italian Phrase
Come faccio a evitare che le cose si spostino?
Meaning
Literally, 'How do I prevent the things from moving?' It is used when you want advice or a method to keep objects from shifting, for example while packing, cooking, or setting a table.
When to use
Use this question when you need practical tips to stop items from sliding or moving around – in a moving truck, on a crowded train, while arranging a dinner setting, or even in a workshop where tools tend to roll.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Comefaccioaevitarechelecosesispostino?
Come faccio a + infinitive
The structure 'Come faccio a + infinitive' is used to ask 'How do I ...?' and requires the infinitive verb after 'a'.
Evitare che + subjunctive
After 'evitare che' the verb that follows is in the present subjunctive because it expresses a feared or undesirable event.
Reflexive verb in subjunctive
The verb 'spostare' becomes reflexive 'spostarsi' and in the subjunctive it changes to 'si spostino' for third‑person plural.
Subject‑verb agreement
The subject of the subordinate clause is 'le cose' (plural), so the subjunctive verb must agree in number.
🗨In Conversation
Come faccio a evitare che le cose si spostino?
How do I prevent the things from moving?
Puoi usare dei cuscinetti di gomma sotto i vassoi e fissare i cassetti con delle fascette elastiche.
You can put rubber pads under the trays and secure the drawers with elastic straps.
✕Common Mistakes
Come fa a evitare che le cose si spostino?
The verb must be conjugated to match the subject 'io' – use 'faccio' not 'fa'.
Come faccio a evitare che le cose si spostano?
After 'evitare che' you need the subjunctive, not the indicative.
Come faccio a evito che le cose si spostino?
The construction 'Come faccio a' requires the infinitive 'evitare', not the verb 'evito'.
↔Alternatives
Come posso impedire che le cose si muovano?
How can I stop the things from moving?
Qual è il modo migliore per tenere ferma la roba?
What is the best way to keep the stuff steady?
Che cosa devo fare per non far spostare le cose?
What should I do so the things don’t shift?
Cultural Tip
In Italian, both 'evitare' and 'impedire' can introduce a subjunctive clause, but 'evitare' sounds a bit more formal and is often used in written instructions, while 'impedire' is common in everyday speech. Remember to keep the tone polite – adding 'per favore' or 'mi può aiutare' softens the request.