La suola è consumata, però è riparabile.

to be

Breakdown of La suola è consumata, però è riparabile.

• però: but
• la suola: the sole
• consumato: worn down

Questions & Answers about La suola è consumata, però è riparabile.

Why is it la suola and not il suolo?

Because suola and suolo are different words.

• la suola = the sole of a shoe
• il suolo = the ground / soil

They look very similar, so they are easy to confuse. In this sentence, la suola is the part of the shoe that touches the ground.

Why does consumata end in -a?

Because it agrees with la suola, which is:

• feminine
• singular

In Italian, adjectives and past participles used like adjectives must agree with the noun they describe.

So:

• la suola è consumata
• il tacco è consumato
• le suole sono consumate
• i tacchi sono consumati

This agreement is one of the first things English speakers notice, because English adjectives do not change form this way.

What does consumata mean here?

Here consumata means worn down, worn out, or used up from wear.

With shoes, consumato/a is very common for something that has been damaged gradually through use. So the sentence suggests that the sole has been worn by walking, friction, time, and use.

It does not necessarily mean completely destroyed. The second part, però è riparabile, tells you that it can still be fixed.