La mia stanza è al secondo piano della casa.

My room is on the second floor of the house.

Breakdown of La mia stanza è al secondo piano della casa.

• essere: to be
• di: of
• la casa: the house
• la stanza: the room
• la mia: my
• al: on
• secondo: second
• il piano: the floor

Questions & Answers about La mia stanza è al secondo piano della casa.

What does the contraction al mean, and why is it used in this sentence?

Al is the contracted form of a + il. In Italian, when the preposition a (meaning "at" or "on") comes before the masculine singular definite article il, they combine to form al. Here, it precedes secondo piano ("second floor"), making the sentence smoother and more natural.

Why is the possessive adjective mia used instead of mio in La mia stanza?

In Italian, possessive adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since stanza is a feminine noun, the correct form is mia (feminine for "my") rather than mio (masculine form).

What does the contraction della signify in the phrase della casa?

Della is a contraction of di + la. It translates as "of the" in English and shows possession or belonging. In this sentence, it indicates that the second floor is part of the house.

Why does Italian require a definite article before the possessive adjective in La mia stanza when English does not use one before "my room"?

Italian grammar typically uses a definite article with possessive adjectives when they precede a noun. Even though English would simply say "my room," Italian construction demands la mia stanza (literally "the my room") to emphasize definiteness and proper agreement with the feminine noun.

How is the location expressed in the sentence, and why is the preposition a important here?

The location is expressed by the phrase al secondo piano della casa, which tells us that the room is located on the second floor of the house. The preposition a (contracted to al) is crucial because it denotes the spatial relationship—indicating where the room is situated within the building.

What is the role of è in this sentence?

È is the third-person singular form of the verb essere (to be). It serves as the linking verb that connects the subject la mia stanza ("my room") with its location al secondo piano della casa ("on the second floor of the house").