Learn Hardcore Italian: Il giornalista è onesto.

The article il indicates that the noun giornalista is masculine and singular. It functions the same way as the in English by specifying a particular journalist. In Italian, definite articles must agree in gender and number with the noun they accompany.

What role does the verb è play in the sentence?

The verb è is the third-person singular form of essere (to be). It acts as a linking verb that connects the subject (il giornalista) with the predicate adjective (onesto), thereby describing the quality or state of the subject.

Why is the adjective onesto placed after the verb rather than before the noun?

In Italian, when adjectives describe the state or condition of the subject (i.e., when they are used predicatively), they normally follow the linking verb. So, onesto comes after è to indicate that honesty is a characteristic of the journalist. Placing an adjective before the noun might imply a more inherent or nuanced quality and is used in different contexts.

Does the adjective onesto agree with the subject, and would it change if the subject were feminine?

Yes, onesto is in its masculine singular form, which agrees with giornalista when referring to a male journalist. If the journalist were female, both the article and the adjective would change to the feminine form, resulting in la giornalista è onesta.

Could the sentence be rearranged while maintaining the same meaning?

Italian normally follows a subject-linking verb-predicate adjective order for sentences like this. While Italian word order can be flexible, rearranging it could change the emphasis or nuance. The standard form il giornalista è onesto is clear and direct, so deviating from this order isn’t common when simply stating a fact about the subject.

Why does the verb è carry an accent mark?

The accent on è distinguishes it from the conjunction e (which means and). This accent ensures that readers recognize è as the verb form of essere (meaning is) rather than confusing it with the word for and.