Il portafoglio è vuoto.

to be

Breakdown of Il portafoglio è vuoto.

• vuoto: empty
• il portafoglio: the wallet

Questions & Answers about Il portafoglio è vuoto.

What does il signify in this sentence?

Il is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, equivalent to the in English. It’s used here to specify a particular wallet.

Why is portafoglio considered masculine, and how do I know this?

In Italian, nouns ending in -o are usually masculine. Portafoglio ends in -o, and that’s why it takes the masculine article il and masculine adjectives like vuoto.

What role does è play in the sentence?

È is the third person singular present form of the verb essere, meaning is. It functions as the linking verb that connects the subject (il portafoglio) to the predicate adjective (vuoto), describing its state.

Why does the adjective vuoto appear in its masculine singular form?

In Italian, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. Since portafoglio is masculine singular, the adjective vuoto also takes the masculine singular form to ensure proper agreement.

Is the sentence structure in Il portafoglio è vuoto typical in Italian?

Yes, the sentence follows a common Italian structure: Subject (il portafoglio), Verb (è), and Predicate (adjective vuoto). This straightforward construction is typical for describing the condition or state of a subject.

Are there any pronunciation or accent-related details I should be aware of?

Absolutely. Notice that è carries a grave accent, which distinguishes it from e (meaning and). Also, portafoglio can be a bit challenging because of its consonant blends and the rolling r—practicing its pronunciation can be very helpful.