Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Italian grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Il volo è economico.
What does Il volo è economico translate to in English?
It translates to "The flight is inexpensive" (or "cheap"). Although similar to the English word economic, in this context economico specifically refers to the low cost of the flight.
What is the function of the article Il in this sentence?
Il is the masculine singular definite article meaning "the". It signals that we are referring to a specific entity—in this case, the flight (volo)—and it is required in Italian when mentioning a noun in a definite context.
How does the adjective economico agree with the noun volo?
In Italian, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. Since volo is a masculine singular noun, economico is also in the masculine singular form.
Why is the adjective economico placed after the verb è instead of directly before the noun?
In Italian, when describing a quality or state of the subject, the predicate adjective follows the linking verb (in this case, è, which means “is”). This structure mirrors English (“The flight is inexpensive”) and clearly separates the subject from its descriptive quality.
What role does the verb è play in the sentence?
È is the third person singular form of the verb essere (to be). It functions as the linking verb that connects the subject volo with the predicate adjective economico, effectively stating that the flight possesses the quality of being inexpensive.
Can economico be confused with the English word “economic”?
Yes, it can be confusing because the words look similar. However, in Italian economico usually means "cheap" or "inexpensive", whereas in English, economic most often relates to the economy or financial matters. Context is key to avoid misunderstanding.