Io taglio la crostata in piccoli pezzi.

I cut the tart into small pieces.

Breakdown of Io taglio la crostata in piccoli pezzi.

• io: I
• in: in
• piccolo: small
• il pezzo: the piece
• tagliare: to cut
• la crostata: the tart

Questions & Answers about Io taglio la crostata in piccoli pezzi.

What does the word Io indicate in the sentence?

Io is the subject pronoun meaning "I." Although Italian often drops subject pronouns because the verb’s conjugation already shows who is acting, including Io here can add emphasis or clarity.

How is the verb taglio conjugated, and what tense does it express?

Taglio is the first person singular form of the verb tagliare in the present indicative tense. It translates as "I cut," showing that the speaker is performing the cutting action in the present.

Why is the definite article la used before crostata?

The article la is the feminine singular definite article in Italian, equivalent to "the" in English. Since crostata is a feminine noun meaning "tart" or "pie," the article must agree in gender and number with the noun.

What role does the preposition in play in the phrase in piccoli pezzi?

The preposition in is used to indicate division or transformation, similar to "into" in English. In this sentence, in piccoli pezzi means that the tart is being cut into small pieces.

How does adjective agreement work in piccoli pezzi, and why is piccoli placed before pezzi?

Adjectives in Italian must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. Since pezzi is a masculine plural noun, the adjective becomes piccoli. Although adjectives often follow the noun, they can also precede it for emphasis or in idiomatic expressions, as seen in in piccoli pezzi.

Is it necessary to include the subject pronoun Io, or could it be omitted?

In Italian, subject pronouns are commonly omitted because the verb conjugation clearly indicates who is performing the action. However, including Io can be useful for emphasis or clarity, so both Io taglio la crostata in piccoli pezzi and Taglio la crostata in piccoli pezzi are grammatically correct.