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Questions & Answers about L'acciaio è molto forte.
Why is the definite article written as L' before acciaio?
In Italian, when a masculine singular noun begins with a vowel, the typical article il is shortened to L' for smoother pronunciation. So, instead of saying Il acciaio, you say L'acciaio.
What is the meaning of the accented è in the sentence?
The word è is the third-person singular form of the verb essere, meaning “is.” The accent is there to distinguish it from e, which means “and.”
How does the adverb molto function in this sentence?
Molto is an adverb meaning “very.” It intensifies the adjective forte, indicating a high degree of strength in the phrase molto forte.
Why doesn’t the adjective forte change its form to reflect gender?
Many Italian adjectives, including forte, remain the same in the masculine and feminine singular forms. In this case, whether referring to a masculine or feminine noun, forte stays unchanged; only the plural form would change to forti.
Is it common practice in Italian to use the definite article with materials like steel?
Yes, when referring to a material in a general sense, Italian typically uses the definite article. L'acciaio is used to speak about steel as a general substance or material.