sottolineeremmo

Sottolineeremmo is the first-person plural present conditional form of the Italian verb sottolineare, meaning to underline or to highlight. It is used to express a hypothetical action, a polite suggestion, or a proposal in a conditional context, equivalent to “we would underline” in English.

Etymology and form: sottolineare is derived from sotto- “under” and linea “line,” with the standard -are verb pattern. In the present conditional, -are verbs take the endings -ei, -esti, -ebbe, -emmo, -este, -ebbero; for sottolineeremmo, the form corresponds to noi (we). The full paradigm for this verb in the present conditional is: io sottolineerei, tu sottolineeresti, lui/lei sottolineerebbe, noi sottolineeremmo, voi sottolineereste, loro sottolineerebbero. The form is regular and does not involve irregular stems.

Usage: In practice, sottolineeremmo appears in writing and formal speech when proposing or imagining an action. It can imply emphasis or selection of certain parts, especially in discussions, analyses, or editorials. It is common to pair the conditional with a hypothetical clause (se…; would) or to soften instructions or recommendations. Examples: “Se avessimo tempo, sottolineeremmo i passaggi chiave del capitolo.” / “Sottolineeremmo questa frase per evidenziare l’idea centrale.”

Notes: While it literally means “we would underline,” the nuance in Italian often extends to “we would highlight” or “we would emphasize,” depending on context. The form is applicable to any subject when conjugated accordingly in other persons (sottolineerebbe, sottolineeresti, ecc.).