Il cielo è buio.

to be

Breakdown of Il cielo è buio.

• il cielo: the sky
• buio: dark

Questions & Answers about Il cielo è buio.

What is the role of Il in the sentence?

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

Why is there an accent on è?

The accent on è differentiates the verb essere (“to be”) in its third-person singular present form from the conjunction e (which means “and”). It ensures the proper pronunciation and meaning of the verb, indicating “is.”

How does adjective agreement work with the word buio in this sentence?

In Italian, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they describe. Since cielo is masculine singular, the adjective buio is also in the masculine singular form. In other contexts, if the noun were feminine or plural, buio would change accordingly (for example, buia for a feminine singular noun).

What is the overall structure of the sentence Il cielo è buio?

The sentence follows a basic subject-verb-adjective structure. Il cielo is the subject, è is the linking verb (from essere, meaning “is”), and buio serves as the predicate adjective describing the subject. This format is similar to the English sentence “The sky is dark.”

Can adjectives ever precede the noun in Italian, and why is buio placed after the verb here?

Yes, some adjectives in Italian can appear before the noun for stylistic or emphasis reasons, but their placement can change the nuance of the description. In Il cielo è buio, buio follows the verb because it functions as a predicate adjective directly linked to the subject. This placement clearly attributes the characteristic of “darkness” to the sky, much like in English.

Is Il cielo è buio used only for literal descriptions, or can it be interpreted metaphorically?

While Il cielo è buio literally describes a dark sky, it can also be used metaphorically. In literature or conversation, it might evoke moods of gloom or foreboding, depending on context. Thus, the sentence can carry both literal and figurative connotations.