Controllarla

Controllarla is the Italian non-finite verb form obtained by attaching the clitic pronoun la (feminine singular direct object) to the infinitive controllare (to control). The la can refer to a feminine noun mentioned earlier or to a feminine person (it/her) depending on context.

Usage and placement: When a sentence contains a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, the pronoun may appear before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive. Examples: La devo controllare. or Devo controllarla. Both forms are correct; choice often depends on rhythm, emphasis, or formality. Controllarla can also function as the subject of a sentence: Controllarla è importante (Controlling it/her is important).

Syntactic notes: The form controllarla specifically marks a feminine direct object. For masculine objects, the corresponding form is controllarlo. If the pronoun refers to a plural object, equivalents are controllarli or controllarle as appropriate. In contexts without a preceding verb, the infinitive with attached pronoun remains natural: Controllarla potrebbe richiedere tempo.

Semantic and usage considerations: Controllarla commonly appears in contexts involving check, verify, or supervise a feminine object or person. It is also used in general statements about the act of controlling something feminine. Ambiguity can arise if the antecedent is not clear, so explicit nouns may be used for clarity.

See also: Italian clitic pronouns, infinitive with pronouns, controllare.