Il film è spaventoso.

to be

Breakdown of Il film è spaventoso.

• il film: the film
• spaventoso: scary

Questions & Answers about Il film è spaventoso.

What is the literal translation of “Il film è spaventoso”?

It translates to “The film is scary.” Here, “il film” means “the film,” “è” means “is,” and “spaventoso” means “scary.”

What role does the article “il” play in the sentence?

“Il” is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, equivalent to “the.” It indicates that the noun “film” is masculine and singular.

What is the function of the verb “è” in the sentence?

“È” is the third-person singular form of the verb “essere” (to be). It acts as a linking verb that connects the subject “il film” with its quality described by the adjective “spaventoso.”

How does the adjective “spaventoso” agree with the noun “film” in the sentence?

In Italian, adjectives must match the noun in gender and number. Since “film” is masculine and singular, the adjective “spaventoso” is also in its masculine singular form. Additionally, adjectives following a linking verb like “essere” are common when describing a state or quality.

If I want to say “The films are scary” in Italian, what changes should I make?

You need to adjust both the article and the adjective for the plural form. Use “I” (the masculine plural definite article) for “film” and change “spaventoso” to “spaventosi.” The sentence becomes: “I film sono spaventosi.”

Can the adjective “spaventoso” be placed before the noun, and would that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say “Il spaventoso film.” However, in Italian, the placement of adjectives can affect nuance. When describing an inherent quality or using a linking verb (as in “Il film è spaventoso”), it’s most common to place the adjective after the verb. Placing it before the noun might add emphasis or a slightly different connotation.