Italian Phrase
Controlla gli orari della biblioteca qui vicino.
Meaning
The sentence tells someone to look up or verify the opening hours of the library that is close to the current location. It is a direct, informal command often used in everyday conversation or on informational signs.
When to use
Use this phrase when you want to point a friend, a classmate, or a visitor to the schedule of a nearby library—e.g., on a flyer, in a chat, or when giving directions.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Controllaglioraridellabibliotecaquivicino
Imperative (2nd person singular)
‘Controlla’ is the informal imperative form of the verb ‘controllare’ (to check).
Definite article ‘gli’
‘gli’ is the plural masculine article used before a vowel or ‘z’, as in ‘gli orari’.
Plural noun ‘orari’
‘orari’ is the plural of ‘orario’, meaning ‘hours’ or ‘timetable’.
Prepositional article ‘della’
‘della’ = ‘di’ + ‘la’, meaning ‘of the’ and introduces the noun ‘biblioteca’.
Feminine noun ‘biblioteca’
‘biblioteca’ means ‘library’; it is feminine, so the article before it is ‘la’ (contracted to ‘della’).
Adverbial phrase ‘qui vicino’
‘qui’ means ‘here’, and ‘vicino’ works as an adverb meaning ‘nearby’.
🗨In Conversation
Hai bisogno di studiare per l'esame?
Do you need to study for the exam?
Sì, controlla gli orari della biblioteca qui vicino.
Yes, check the opening hours of the nearby library.
✕Common Mistakes
Controlla i orari della biblioteca qui vicino.
‘i’ is the masculine plural article used before consonants; before a vowel you must use ‘gli’.
Controlla l’orario della biblioteca qui vicino.
‘orario’ is singular; the phrase refers to multiple opening times, so the plural ‘orari’ is required.
Controlla gli orari della biblioteca qui vicina.
‘vicina’ is the feminine form; when used adverbially after ‘qui’, the invariant form ‘vicino’ is used.
↔Alternatives
Verifica gli orari della biblioteca più vicina.
Verify the hours of the closest library.
Guarda gli orari della biblioteca di zona.
Look at the hours of the local library.
Controlla quando è aperta la biblioteca qui accanto.
Check when the library next door is open.
Cultural Tip
Italian public libraries often close for a few hours at lunch (usually between 1 pm and 3 pm) and may have reduced hours on weekends. When you ask for ‘orari’, locals will often give you a printed schedule or direct you to the library’s website. Using the informal imperative ‘controlla’ is appropriate with friends or peers; with strangers or older people, you’d use the polite form ‘controlli’.