La riunione risulta utile.

The meeting turns out to be useful.

Breakdown of La riunione risulta utile.

• utile: useful
• la riunione: the meeting
• risultare: to turn out

Questions & Answers about La riunione risulta utile.

What exactly does the verb risultare mean in this sentence?

Risultare is used in Italian to mean “to turn out” or “to prove to be.” In the sentence La riunione risulta utile, it suggests that after evaluation or observation, the meeting appears to be useful. This verb adds the nuance of an outcome or conclusion rather than stating an inherent quality.

Why might someone use risulta utile instead of the simpler è utile?

While la riunione è utile directly states that the meeting is useful, using risulta emphasizes that this usefulness is a result of an assessment or observation. It implies that, based on the evidence or the way events unfolded, the meeting turned out to be useful, adding a layer of evaluative meaning often seen in more formal or analytical contexts.

Can the sentence be rephrased with a different verb while keeping the same meaning?

Yes, the sentence can be rephrased to convey a similar idea. For instance, La riunione si è rivelata utile also means that the meeting proved or turned out to be useful. Both expressions communicate a conclusion reached after some evaluation, though risultare tends to be slightly more formal, whereas si è rivelata puts a bit more emphasis on the meeting unveiling its usefulness over time.

Do I need to change the form of risultare if the subject changes?

Absolutely. Like all Italian verbs, risultare must agree with its subject. In this sentence, la riunione is singular, so we use risulta. For example, if you were talking about multiple meetings, you’d say Le riunioni risultano utili to correctly reflect the plural subject.

What function does the adjective utile have in this sentence structure?

The adjective utile acts as a predicate adjective that describes the subject la riunione. It follows the linking verb risulta, which connects the subject to the attribute. This structure is similar to English sentences like “The meeting is useful” but with a nuanced meaning that the usefulness was observed or determined rather than just stated as a fact.