SpeeekDownload on the App Store
Back to At Work

Italian Phrase

Cosa vuole ottenere il progetto?

/ˈkɔ.za ˈvwɔ.le ot.teˈne.re il proˈdʒet.to/
Meaning"What does the project want to achieve?"
💡

Meaning

The sentence asks about the intended result or goal of a project. It literally translates to 'What does the project want to achieve?' and is used to clarify objectives.

🎯

When to use

Use this question in business meetings, project kick‑offs, or any discussion where you need to pinpoint the expected outcomes of a plan or initiative.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Cosavuoleottenereilprogetto?

1

Cosa (interrogative pronoun)

Used to ask 'what' and is placed at the beginning of a question.

2

vuole (volere, 3rd person singular)

Present tense of 'volere' meaning 'wants'; agrees with the subject 'il progetto'.

3

ottenere (infinitive)

Infinitive verb meaning 'to obtain' or 'to achieve'; follows 'vuole' to express intention.

4

il progetto (definite article + noun)

The subject of the sentence; 'the project' is masculine singular, so it takes 'il'.

5

Verb + infinitive construction

In Italian, verbs like volere, potere, dovere are followed directly by an infinitive to express desire, ability, or obligation.

🗨In Conversation

A

Cosa vuole ottenere il progetto?

What does the project want to achieve?

Vogliamo aumentare le vendite del 20% entro la fine dell'anno.

We want to increase sales by 20% by the end of the year.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Cosa vuole ottener il progetto?

    The infinitive is 'ottenere', not 'ottener'.

  • Che vuole ottenere il progetto?

    When the subject is 'il progetto', use 'cosa' not 'che' to ask 'what'.

  • Vuole ottenere il progetto?

    Placing the subject after the verb is correct, but the question mark must stay at the end; avoid 'vuole ottenere il progetto?' without 'cosa'.

↔Alternatives

  • Qual è l'obiettivo del progetto?

    What is the project's objective?

  • Che risultato vuole raggiungere il progetto?

    What result does the project aim to reach?

  • Quali sono le finalità del progetto?

    What are the aims of the project?

it

Cultural Tip

In Italian business culture, being explicit about goals is a sign of professionalism. Use a polite tone (e.g., 'Mi scusi, ma…') when asking in formal settings, and avoid overly casual phrasing in written reports.