Learn Hardcore Italian: Il muro è alto.

In Italian, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Here, "muro" is a masculine singular noun, so the adjective "alto" is also in its masculine singular form.

Why is the definite article "il" used before "muro"?

Italian requires the use of definite articles with most singular nouns to specify the subject. Since "muro" is a masculine singular noun, "il" is the appropriate article—serving the same role as "the" in English.

What is the role of the verb "è" in this sentence?

"È" is the third person singular form of "essere," which means "to be." In this sentence, it acts as a linking verb that connects the subject "il muro" with the predicate adjective "alto," describing the wall's property.

Why is the adjective "alto" placed after the verb rather than directly before the noun?

When an adjective follows a linking verb in Italian, it functions as a predicate adjective that describes the subject. In contrast, adjectives placed before a noun act as attributive adjectives and can sometimes carry different nuances. The structure "Il muro è alto" is standard for expressing that the wall possesses the quality of being tall.

Would changing the position of the adjective change the meaning of the sentence?

Yes, in Italian the position of an adjective can sometimes alter the nuance or emphasis. In a predicate structure as seen here, "alto" clearly describes the state of the wall. If the adjective were placed before the noun (for example, "il alto muro"), it might imply a more subjective or stylistically marked description, and in many cases, it wouldn’t be the natural choice for a simple, factual statement.