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Questions & Answers about Il tavolo è basso.
What is the literal translation of the sentence "Il tavolo è basso."?
The sentence literally translates to "The table is low." It describes a physical property of the table, indicating that its height is low.
Why is the article il used with tavolo in this sentence?
In Italian, nouns have genders. Tavolo is a masculine noun, and the definite article for masculine singular nouns is il. This agreement between article and noun is essential in Italian grammar.
Why does the adjective basso appear after the verb è rather than directly before tavolo?
In Italian, when an adjective is used as a predicate (i.e., following the verb to describe the subject), it comes after the verb. In the sentence "Il tavolo è basso," the structure is subject (il tavolo), verb (è), and predicate adjective (basso). If an adjective were used attributively (placed directly before the noun), it might carry a slightly different nuance or emphasis.
How do I know that basso should remain in its masculine form in this sentence?
Adjectives in Italian must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since tavolo is masculine singular, the adjective also remains in its masculine singular form, which is basso. If the noun were feminine, the adjective would change (for example, bassa).
What does the verb è indicate in the sentence?
The word è is the third-person singular form of the verb essere (to be) in the present tense. It functions as a linking verb that connects the subject il tavolo to the predicate adjective basso, expressing a state or quality of the subject.
Can basso mean anything else besides "low"?
Yes, basso can have a couple of meanings in Italian. While in this context it means "low" (referring to height), it can also be interpreted as "short" (in height) in other contexts. Additionally, in musical contexts, basso can refer to a "bass" instrument or range. However, in the sentence "Il tavolo è basso," it specifically describes the table’s low height.