La sua bicicletta è nuova.

to be

Breakdown of La sua bicicletta è nuova.

• la bicicletta: the bicycle
• nuovo: new
• la sua: her

Questions & Answers about La sua bicicletta è nuova.

What does each word in La sua bicicletta è nuova mean?

La is the feminine singular definite article meaning "the." Sua is a possessive adjective that can translate as "his" or "her" (its exact meaning depends on context). Bicicletta means "bicycle." È is the third-person singular form of the verb essere (to be), meaning "is." Nuova is an adjective meaning "new," and it is in the feminine singular form to agree with bicicletta.

Why is the definite article la used in this sentence?

The article la is used because bicicletta is a feminine noun in Italian. Since Italian articles must agree in gender and number with the noun they precede, the feminine singular article la is required here instead of il or another form.

Why does the adjective nuova end with -a?

Adjectives in Italian must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. Because bicicletta is feminine and singular, the adjective adopts the feminine singular ending -a to become nuova.

What does the possessive adjective sua indicate, and can its meaning vary?

Sua indicates possession and translates to "his" or "her." Italian possessive adjectives agree in gender with the noun they modify, not necessarily with the possessor. Therefore, without additional context, sua could refer to either a male or a female owner of the bicycle.

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

È functions as the main verb of the sentence. It is the third-person singular present form of essere (to be) and acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject La sua bicicletta with the predicate adjective nuova, which describes the state or condition of the bicycle.

Is placing the adjective nuova after the noun bicicletta typical in Italian, and can adjectives sometimes come before the noun?

Yes, it is typical in Italian for adjectives like nuova—which describe intrinsic qualities—to follow the noun, as in bicicletta nuova. However, Italian adjectives can sometimes be placed before the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons, although the meaning or nuance might change slightly.