Il tè è ottimo.

to be

Breakdown of Il tè è ottimo.

• il tè: the tea
• ottimo: excellent

Questions & Answers about Il tè è ottimo.

Why is the definite article il used before tè?

Italian nouns have gender, and il is the masculine singular definite article. Since tè (tea) is a masculine noun, il correctly introduces it.

Why does the word tè include an accent over the è?

The accent distinguishes tè (tea) from the unstressed pronoun te (meaning “you” in informal contexts). It also indicates that the stress falls on the final syllable, ensuring proper pronunciation.

What role does the verb è play in this sentence?

È is the third person singular form of the verb essere ("to be"). In this sentence, it connects the subject il tè with the predicate adjective ottimo, describing the quality of the tea.

How does the adjective ottimo agree with the noun tè?

In Italian, adjectives must match the noun they describe in gender and number. Since tè is masculine and singular, ottimo is used in its masculine singular form.

Is the sentence structure in Il tè è ottimo similar to English sentence construction?

Yes, it is. The sentence follows the subject-verb-adjective order, much like the English sentence “The tea is excellent.” This similarity makes it easier to understand for English speakers learning Italian.