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L'embalatge està danyat.

L'embalatge està danyat.
The packaging is damaged.
From Lesson 39:Tracking and returning an online purchase·Hardcore Catalan

Breakdown of L'embalatge està danyat.

estar
to be
l'embalatge
the packaging
danyat
damaged

Questions & Answers about L'embalatge està danyat.

What does L' mean in L'embalatge?
It is the definite article el shortened before a vowel. So el embalatge becomes l'embalatge. It means the, and it is pronounced together with the noun.
Is embalatge masculine or feminine?
It is masculine singular: l'embalatge or un embalatge. That is why the describing word is danyat, the masculine singular form. Many Catalan nouns ending in -atge are masculine.
Why is it danyat and not danyada?

Because danyat has to agree with embalatge in gender and number. Since embalatge is masculine singular, the correct form is danyat.

The pattern is:

  • danyat = masculine singular
  • danyada = feminine singular
  • danyats = masculine plural
  • danyades = feminine plural
Why do we use està instead of és?

Catalan normally uses estar for a condition or resulting state, and ser for identity, classification, or many permanent descriptions. Here the idea is that the packaging is in a damaged condition, so està danyat is the natural everyday choice.

Using és danyat would sound much less natural in ordinary speech.

Is danyat an adjective or a past participle?

It comes from the verb danyar, meaning to damage, so it is originally a past participle. In this sentence, though, it works like an adjective describing the condition of the packaging.

English does something similar in is damaged.

Is this a passive sentence?

In everyday use, it is better understood as a state description: the packaging is in a damaged condition. So it is not usually felt as a full passive in the same way as a formal sentence like The packaging was damaged by the carrier.

Catalan often prefers this estar + participle/adjective pattern to describe a result.

Why does està have an accent mark?
The accent shows that the stress falls on the last syllable: es-TÀ. Without the accent, the spelling would suggest a different stress pattern. So the accent mainly helps you pronounce the word correctly.
How do you pronounce the sentence?

A rough guide is:

  • L'embalatge: lem-ba-LAT-je
  • està: es-TA
  • danyat: da-NYAT

The ny sound is like the ny in canyon. The final sound in embalatge is like j in judge in many accents.

Can embalatge mean the packaging rather than the parcel itself?
Yes. Embalatge usually refers to the packaging, wrapping, or packing material, not the contents themselves. So this sentence is specifically talking about the condition of the packaging.
How would I say this in the plural?

You would say Els embalatges estan danyats.

Notice the changes:

  • l' becomes els
  • està becomes estan
  • danyat becomes danyats
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