Italian Phrase
Vedi se la scatola regge il peso.
Meaning
The sentence asks someone to check whether the box is strong enough to support a given weight. It is a practical request often heard when packing, moving, or testing the durability of a container.
When to use
Use this phrase in informal situations when you need a quick verification – e.g., in a workshop, during a move, or while loading items into a box. In formal contexts you would switch to ‘Veda se…’ or ‘Controlli se…’.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Vediselascatolareggeilpeso
Imperative (Vedi)
‘Vedi’ is the second‑person singular imperative of ‘vedere’, used informally to ask someone to look or check something.
Conjunction ‘se’
‘Se’ introduces an indirect yes/no question, equivalent to ‘if’ or ‘whether’ in English.
Verb ‘reggere’ (regge)
‘Regge’ is the third‑person singular present of ‘reggere’, meaning ‘to hold, support, bear’. It agrees with the singular subject ‘la scatola’.
Definite article ‘la’
Italian uses the definite article before nouns when the reference is specific – here ‘la scatola’ = ‘the box’.
Noun phrase ‘il peso’
‘Il peso’ literally means ‘the weight’; it can refer to a measured load or a figurative burden.
🗨In Conversation
Vedi se la scatola regge il peso?
Check if the box can hold the weight?
Sì, sembra robusta; può reggere fino a 10 kg.
Yes, it looks sturdy; it can hold up to 10 kg.
✕Common Mistakes
Vedi se la scatola regge il peso, per favore?
In formal or polite contexts the correct form is ‘Veda’ (formal imperative) or ‘Controlli’. Using ‘Vedi’ can sound too casual.
Vedi se la scatola regga il peso.
Learners sometimes replace ‘regge’ with ‘regga’, which is a subjunctive form and grammatically incorrect here.
Vedi se scatola regge il peso.
Dropping the article (‘scatola’) is ungrammatical because Italian requires the definite article before a specific noun.
↔Alternatives
Controlla se la scatola può sostenere il peso.
Check if the box can sustain the weight.
Verifica se la scatola regge il carico.
Verify whether the box holds the load.
Veda se la scatola regge il peso.
Please check if the box can hold the weight. (formal)
Cultural Tip
‘Vedi se…’ is informal and common among friends, family, or colleagues. In a professional or polite setting Italians prefer the formal imperative ‘Veda se…’ or the more neutral ‘Controlli se…’. The verb ‘reggere’ is versatile – besides physical support it can describe abstract concepts like ‘reggere una pressione’ (to withstand pressure).