Il lago è calmo.

to be

Breakdown of Il lago è calmo.

• il lago: the lake
• calmo: calm

Questions & Answers about Il lago è calmo.

What does il mean in this sentence, and why is it used?

Il is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, equivalent to the in English. It is used here to specify that we are talking about a particular lake.

What does lago mean, and why is it considered masculine?

Lago means lake in English. Italian assigns a gender to every noun, and lago is classified as masculine, which is why it pairs with the article il.

What is the function of è in the sentence?

È is the third-person singular form of the verb essere (to be). It serves as a linking verb that connects the subject (il lago) with the predicate adjective (calmo), conveying the state of the lake.

Why is the adjective calmo placed after è rather than directly modifying lago?

In Italian, when an adjective is used as a predicate (that is, following a linking verb like essere), it typically comes after the verb. Calmo follows è to describe the state of il lago. While adjectives can also be used before a noun (e.g., il calmo lago), putting it after the verb emphasizes the condition or state.

Does the adjective calmo agree in gender and number with the noun it describes? How would it change for a feminine noun or a plural noun?

Yes, Italian adjectives must agree with the noun in both gender and number. Here, calmo is in its masculine singular form because lago is masculine and singular. For a feminine noun, the adjective would typically change to calma. In the plural form, it would be calmi for masculine nouns and calme for feminine nouns.

Are there any nuances to the placement of adjectives in Italian, particularly in this sentence?

Absolutely. While Il lago è calmo uses the predicate adjective structure following the verb è, adjectives in Italian can also precede the noun to provide a slightly different nuance or emphasis. For example, saying Il calmo lago might suggest that calmness is an inherent quality of the lake, whereas Il lago è calmo more directly describes the current state of the lake.