Truhla je zavřená.

The chest is closed.

Breakdown of Truhla je zavřená.

• být: to be
• zavřený: closed
• truhla: the chest

Questions & Answers about Truhla je zavřená.

Why is it zavřená and not zavřený?

Because truhla is a feminine singular noun in Czech.

The adjective zavřený / zavřená / zavřené has to agree with the noun it describes in:

• gender
• number
• usually also case

So here:

• truhla = feminine singular
• therefore zavřená = feminine singular

Compare:

• hrad je zavřený = the castle is closed (masculine)
• truhla je zavřená = the chest is closed (feminine)
• okno je zavřené = the window is closed (neuter)

Why is je used here?

Je means is. It is the 3rd person singular form of být = to be.

So the sentence is built like this:

• truhla = chest
• je = is
• zavřená = closed

Literally: The chest is closed.

In Czech, this kind of sentence normally uses být just like English does.

Can Czech leave out je here?

In normal standard Czech, no. You usually keep je in the present tense.

So:

• Truhla je zavřená. = correct
• Truhla zavřená. = not normal as a full neutral sentence

You might hear omitted forms in headlines, notes, very informal speech, or poetic style, but learners should use je here.