Il libro è dentro lo zaino.

to be

Breakdown of Il libro è dentro lo zaino.

• il libro: the book
• lo zaino: the backpack
• dentro: inside

Questions & Answers about Il libro è dentro lo zaino.

Why is the definite article lo used before zaino instead of il?

In Italian, masculine singular nouns use the article lo when they begin with certain consonant clusters, such as z (as well as s + consonant, gn, ps, pn, x, or y). Since zaino starts with a z, the correct form is lo zaino, not il zaino.

What is the function of the word dentro in this sentence?

Dentro is a preposition meaning inside. In the sentence, it indicates the location of the subject (the book), telling us that the book is located inside the backpack.

Can the preposition dentro be replaced with in? If so, how does that affect the article?

Yes, you can use in to express location. However, when in is used with a definite article, it contracts with it. Since zaino takes lo (because it starts with z), in + lo becomes nello. So, the sentence would change to Il libro è nello zaino. The choice between dentro and in can also subtly affect the emphasis—with dentro stressing that something is completely within the confines of something else.

What is the overall grammatical structure of the sentence Il libro è dentro lo zaino?

The sentence follows a simple subject-verb-prepositional phrase structure. Il libro is the subject, è is the third-person singular form of the verb essere (to be), and dentro lo zaino is a prepositional phrase indicating location. This structure directly translates to The book is inside the backpack in English.