Il danno è grande.

to be

Breakdown of Il danno è grande.

• grande: big
• il danno: the damage

Questions & Answers about Il danno è grande.

What is the function of the article Il in the sentence?

Il is the masculine singular definite article in Italian. It signals that the following noun, danno in this case, is specific and masculine—similar to how “the” functions in English.

What does the noun danno mean, and what should I know about its gender?

Danno means “damage” (or “harm”) and is a masculine noun. Since it is masculine, it requires the masculine article Il and any adjectives describing it must agree in gender.

How does the adjective grande match with the noun in this sentence?

The adjective grande means “big” or “great” and describes the extent of the damage. In Italian adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify—here, grande correctly aligns with the singular masculine danno. (If referring to multiple damages, the adjective would change to grandi.)

Why is the sentence structured as Il danno è grande, and how does it parallel English sentence structure?

The sentence follows a subject-linking verb-adjective format, where Il danno is the subject, è (the third person singular form of essere) is the linking verb, and grande is the predicate adjective. This structure directly corresponds to the English “The damage is great,” making it accessible for English speakers learning Italian.

Is the placement of grande typical, and can adjectives ever be positioned differently in Italian?

Yes, the placement is typical in a predicate structure where the adjective follows the linking verb. However, in Italian adjectives can sometimes precede the noun when used attributively or for stylistic emphasis. In this declarative statement, placing grande after è is the standard and clear choice.

Can Il danno è grande have different implications depending on the context?

Absolutely. While the literal translation is “The damage is great,” the adjective grande can emphasize varying degrees of severity. Depending on context, it might refer to extensive physical damage, significant financial loss, or even metaphorical harm. The exact nuance is usually clear from the situation in which the sentence is used.