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Questions & Answers about Il treno è un po’ lento.
What does the Il in the sentence mean?
Il is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, which translates to the in English. It specifies that you're talking about a particular train.
What is the meaning of treno?
Treno means train. It is the subject of the sentence, telling you what is being described.
What role does è play in the sentence?
È is the third person singular form of the verb essere (to be). In this sentence, it acts as a linking verb that connects the subject (Il treno) to the predicate (un po’ lento).
How does un po’ function, and why is it written with an apostrophe?
Un po’ is an adverbial phrase meaning a bit or a little. It modifies the adjective lento to express that the train is only somewhat slow. The apostrophe indicates a contraction of the full form un poco, which is commonly dropped in informal or spoken Italian.
Why is lento placed at the end, and what is its function?
Lento is an adjective that describes the train, indicating that it is slow. In Italian, adjectives can follow the linking verb to complete the predicate. Here, lento tells you about the quality of the train's speed.