Il tavolo è di legno.

to be

Breakdown of Il tavolo è di legno.

• il tavolo: the table
• di: of
• il legno: the wood

Questions & Answers about Il tavolo è di legno.

What does the sentence "Il tavolo è di legno" literally mean in English?

It translates as "The table is made of wood." Although English uses the phrase "made of" to specify material, Italian simply uses "è di legno" to indicate what the table is composed of.

Why is the preposition di used in the phrase di legno?

In Italian, di is used to indicate the material from which something is made. So di legno means "of wood" or "made of wood." It’s a common construction for expressing composition without needing an extra verb like "made."

Can I also say "Il tavolo è fatto di legno" and what is the difference?

Yes, you can say "Il tavolo è fatto di legno," which translates directly as "The table is made of wood." However, "Il tavolo è di legno" is more idiomatic and succinct in Italian. The version with "fatto" explicitly mentions the process of being made, while the simpler form directly states what the table is composed of.

Why is the verb è used in this sentence instead of another verb like fare?

The verb è is the third person singular of essere (to be) and serves as a linking verb that connects the subject il tavolo with its property di legno. It isn’t describing an action; it’s simply stating a fact about what the table is made of. Using fare would imply an active process of making, which isn’t the intention here.

Is it necessary to include the definite article il before tavolo in this sentence?

Yes, it is. In Italian, nouns are usually accompanied by a definite article when referring to specific objects or when speaking in general terms about a known category. "Il tavolo" specifically means "the table," and omitting the article would be uncommon and might sound incomplete in this context.