Il calzolaio controlla la suola consumata.

Because Italian nouns have grammatical gender.

• calzolaio is masculine singular, so it takes il
• suola is feminine singular, so it takes la

So:

• il calzolaio = the shoemaker
• la suola = the sole

This is one of the first things to check when learning a new Italian noun: is it masculine or feminine?

Controlla is the third person singular, present tense of controllare.

The verb pattern is:

• io controllo = I check
• tu controlli = you check
• lui/lei controlla = he/she checks

So in this sentence, controlla matches il calzolaio:

• Il calzolaio controlla = The shoemaker checks

Not usually in this sentence. This is an important false friend.

In many everyday contexts, Italian controllare means:

• to check
• to inspect
• to examine

So here, controlla means something like checks or inspects, not controls.

Italian controllare can sometimes mean to control, depending on context, but very often it means to check.

Because Italian often leaves the subject pronoun out when it is already clear from the verb form.

In English, you must say:

• He checks

But in Italian, controlla already tells you it is he/she/it. Since the subject is also stated as il calzolaio, adding lui would usually be unnecessary.

So Italian normally says:

• Il calzolaio controlla...

not

• Lui il calzolaio controlla...

Calzolaio means shoemaker or cobbler.

It is a masculine noun ending in -o in the singular:

• il calzolaio = the shoemaker
• i calzolai = the shoemakers

A learner might also hear ciabattino, which can also mean cobbler/shoemaker. The two words are close in meaning, though usage can vary by region or context.

Because consumata is describing suola, and adjectives in Italian must agree with the noun they describe in gender and number.

• suola is feminine singular
• so the adjective must also be feminine singular
• therefore: consumata

Compare:

• il tacco consumato = the worn heel
• la suola consumata = the worn sole
• le suole consumate = the worn soles

This agreement is one of the most important grammar patterns in Italian.

It describes suola, not calzolaio.

You can tell because of agreement:

• suola is feminine singular
• consumata is feminine singular

But calzolaio is masculine singular, so if the adjective described calzolaio, it would need to be consumato, not consumata.

So the structure is:

• Il calzolaio = the shoemaker
• controlla = checks
• la suola consumata = the worn sole

Here consumata means worn, worn down, or worn out.

It comes from the verb consumare, which can mean to consume, to use up, or to wear out, depending on context.

So although it may look similar to English consumed, in this sentence it refers to physical wear:

• una suola consumata = a worn sole

This is very natural language for shoes, clothing, tires, and other things that get used over time.

Because in Italian, adjectives often come after the noun.

So:

• la suola consumata literally follows the pattern the sole worn

This is very common in Italian.

Some adjectives can come before the noun, but the position may change the tone, emphasis, or meaning. In a straightforward description like this, after the noun is the most natural place.

Yes, but Il calzolaio controlla la suola consumata is the most neutral and standard order: subject + verb + object.

That is:

• Il calzolaio = subject
• controlla = verb
• la suola consumata = object

Italian can change word order for emphasis, but learners should treat this sentence as the basic default pattern.

A rough guide:

• calzolaio ≈ kal-tso-LAI-o
• controlla ≈ kon-TROL-la
• suola ≈ SWO-la
• consumata ≈ kon-zoo-MA-ta

A few helpful notes:

• z in calzolaio is pronounced like ts
• uo in suola forms one sound sequence: swo
• the stress in calzolaio falls on -lai-
• the stress in consumata falls on -ma-

If you want to sound natural, getting the stress right is very important.