Guardo il piccolo gatto sul tetto.

I watch the small cat on the roof.

Breakdown of Guardo il piccolo gatto sul tetto.

• io: I
• su: on
• il tetto: the roof
• guardare: to watch
• il piccolo gatto: the small cat

Questions & Answers about Guardo il piccolo gatto sul tetto.

Why is piccolo placed before gatto in this sentence?

In Italian, adjectives can come either before or after the noun. Generally, placing an adjective before the noun can emphasize qualities the speaker feels are inherent or obvious. Piccolo before gatto implies that smallness is a defining characteristic. If you said il gatto piccolo, it would still mean "the small cat," but it might sound slightly more neutral in tone or place more emphasis on distinguishing it from other cats.

What does Guardo specifically mean compared to other verbs like vedo?

Guardo comes from guardare, which means "to look at" or "to watch." It's more active than vedo (from vedere, "to see"), which simply denotes the act of perceiving with your eyes. Guardo implies you’re actively directing your gaze or attention at something—here, the piccolo gatto on the roof.

Why is it sul tetto rather than su il tetto?

In Italian, su (which means "on") combines with the definite article il to form sul. Similarly, su + la = sulla, su + lo = sullo, etc. Because tetto is a masculine noun that takes the article il, the combined form here is sul.

Does sul tetto mean the cat is literally on top of the roof, or could it mean near or on the edge?

Literally, sul tetto means "on the roof," implying the cat is physically on top. But like in many languages, context can soften the literal meaning—someone might say sul tetto even if the cat is just at the edge or in that general area. However, the most direct translation is definitely "on the roof."

Why do I have to use il before piccolo gatto instead of an indefinite article?

Il indicates a specific cat—perhaps it’s already known or identified in the context. If you used un instead (meaning "a" small cat), you’d be talking about any random small cat. Articles in Italian often convey nuances of specificity or familiarity that are slightly different from English usage.