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Io compro tre scarpe rosse.

Io compro tre scarpe rosse.
I buy three red shoes.
FromLesson 17inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Io compro tre scarpe rosse.

io
I
la scarpa
the shoe
rosso
red
comprare
to buy
tre
three

Questions & Answers about Io compro tre scarpe rosse.

Why is the subject pronoun Io included in the sentence even though Italian often drops subject pronouns?
Italian verb conjugations usually make it clear who is performing the action, so the subject pronoun is often omitted. In this sentence, Io is included for emphasis or clarity, explicitly stating “I” as the subject.
What does compro mean, and what is its grammatical form?
Compro is the first person singular present tense form of the verb comprare, which means “to buy.” In this context, it translates as “I buy.”
Why does the adjective rosse come after the noun scarpe instead of before it?
In Italian, descriptive adjectives—especially those related to colors—typically follow the noun they describe. Thus, scarpe rosse means “red shoes,” with rosse following scarpe to indicate the color.
How does the adjective rosse agree with the noun scarpe in this sentence?
Adjectives in Italian must match the noun in gender and number. Since scarpe is a feminine plural noun, rosse is used as the feminine plural form of rosso (red).
What is the role of the numeral tre in this sentence, and does it change form based on gender?
Tre means “three” and specifies the quantity of shoes purchased. Cardinal numbers in Italian, like tre, are invariant—they remain the same regardless of the gender or number of the noun they modify.
Why is there no article before tre scarpe rosse?
When a cardinal number such as tre indicates quantity, Italian typically omits the article. The numeral itself, along with the noun, sufficiently conveys the meaning without needing an additional article.
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