rispondano

Rispondano is the third-person plural present subjunctive form of the Italian verb rispondere, meaning to reply or to answer. In Italian grammar, it appears in subordinate clauses where the action is viewed as uncertain, desired, possible, or dependent on another action, often following verbs or expressions that require the subjunctive mood.

Usage and function: The present subjunctive is commonly used after verbs of wishing, hoping, fearing, or doubting, and after conjunctions such as che, affinché, in modo che, or per tanto che. Examples include: Spero che rispondano presto. È importante che rispondano alle email. Non credo che rispondano ora. In everyday speech, some speakers may prefer the indicative in informal contexts, but risponda, rispondano, and related forms remain standard in formal or written Italian.

Conjugation: The present subjunctive forms of rispondere are: io risponda, tu risponda, lui/lei risponda, noi rispondiamo, voi rispondiate, loro rispondano. The form rispondano specifically corresponds to the third-person plural. The verb is regular in this mood, following the typical -ere pattern with the appropriate subjunctive endings.

Etymology: Rispondare is derived from Latin respondere, with the subjunctive forms evolving into modern Italian as part of the Romance verb system. Rispondano thus reflects the historical development of the subjunctive mood in Italian.

In summary, rispondano denotes a present-subjunctive form used for “they answer” within dependent clauses, playing a key role in expressing non-certainty, desire, or necessity in Italian syntax.