Breakdown of Il batterio cresce in acqua calda.
l'acqua
the water
in
in
crescere
to grow
caldo
hot
il batterio
the bacterium
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Questions & Answers about Il batterio cresce in acqua calda.
What does the sentence "Il batterio cresce in acqua calda" mean in English, and what is its basic grammatical structure?
It translates to "The bacterium grows in hot water." The sentence is structured with a definite article (il) preceding a singular masculine noun (batterio), followed by the third person singular verb (cresce), and ending with a prepositional phrase (in acqua calda) that describes where the action occurs.
Why is the noun batterio used in the singular form, and how does it relate to the corresponding verb form?
Batterio is in the singular form because it refers to a single bacterium. Because Italian distinguishes between singular and plural, the verb cresce is conjugated in the third person singular form to agree with its singular subject. In contrast, if you were talking about multiple bacteria, you would use batteri and a corresponding plural verb form.
How does adjective agreement work in the phrase acqua calda?
In Italian, adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in both gender and number. Here, acqua is a feminine singular noun, so the adjective calda is also in the feminine singular form. Additionally, adjectives typically follow the noun in Italian when describing inherent qualities.
What is the role of the preposition in in this sentence?
The preposition in indicates the location or environment where the action occurs, similar to its use in English. In in acqua calda, it specifies that the bacterium grows in hot water—pointing out the medium or condition in which the growth takes place.
Why is the verb cresce used in this sentence, and what can we learn from its conjugation?
Cresce is the third person singular present tense form of the verb crescere, which means "to grow." Its use demonstrates subject-verb agreement, as the singular subject il batterio requires a singular verb form. This conjugation also indicates a general, habitual action or fact about the bacterium’s growth in hot water.