Learn Hardcore Italian: Il ragazzo è antipatico.

In Italian every common noun typically requires a definite article. Here, il indicates that ragazzo is masculine and singular, much like the English the before a specific noun.

How does the adjective antipatico agree with the noun ragazzo?

Italian adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since ragazzo (boy) is masculine and singular, the adjective appears in its masculine singular form, antipatico. If the noun were feminine or plural, the form of the adjective would change accordingly.

What role does the verb è play in this sentence?

È is the third person singular present tense form of the irregular verb essere (to be). It acts as a linking verb, connecting the subject Il ragazzo with its predicate adjective antipatico, just as is does in English.

Can the adjective antipatico be placed in a different position in the sentence?

While some Italian adjectives can either precede or follow the noun—with placement sometimes altering nuance—when used as a predicate adjective after essere, its position is fixed. In this construction (Il ragazzo è antipatico), the adjective follows the verb, which is standard for describing a quality or state.

How would you modify the sentence if referring to a female subject instead of a male?

Since adjectives and articles must agree with the subject’s gender, you’d change the article to la and the adjective to its feminine form. The sentence would become La ragazza è antipatica, where ragazza means girl, la is the feminine singular definite article, and antipatica is the feminine form of antipatico.