Sottolineino

Sottolineino is the third-person plural present subjunctive form of the Italian verb sottolineare, meaning to underline. It is used in subordinate clauses where the action of underlining is contemplated, desired, or regarded as uncertain or hypothetical, typically after verbs or expressions that require the subjunctive mood.

In terms of conjugation, sottolineino corresponds to the loro (they) form in the present subjunctive. For the verb sottolineare, the present subjunctive forms are: io sottolinei, tu sottolinei, lui/lei sottolinei, noi sottolineiamo, voi sottolineiate, loro sottolineino. The form is distinct from the present indicative (sottolineano) and from other moods and tenses. The present subjunctive is used in dependent clauses introduced by che or by certain concessive or desiderative constructions, and it can appear after expressions of necessity, possibility, doubt, or wish.

Usage examples include:

- È importante che loro sottolineino i punti principali.

- Spero che essi sottolineino gli errori senza offendere nessuno.

- È possibile che sottolineino quegli elementi solo se necessario.

Sottolineino is not a separate lexical item beyond its role as a verb form; it is not used as a noun. Its occurrence signals a subjunctive mood and a hypothetical or desired action within a sentence. Etymologically, it derives from sottolineare with the typical present-subjunctive ending -ino for the third-person plural.