Il fiore è delicato.

to be

Breakdown of Il fiore è delicato.

• il fiore: the flower
• delicato: delicate

Questions & Answers about Il fiore è delicato.

What does the definite article il indicate in this sentence?

il is the masculine singular definite article in Italian, equivalent to "the" in English. It tells us that the noun it accompanies, fiore, is masculine and singular.

What is the meaning of fiore and how is it used here?

fiore means "flower" in English. In this sentence, it is the subject—the thing being described by the adjective.

What role does è play in the sentence?

è is the third-person singular present form of the verb essere (to be). It functions as the linking verb that connects the subject il fiore to the predicate adjective delicato.

How does the adjective delicato agree with fiore?

Italian adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. delicato ends in -o, which is typical for masculine singular adjectives, matching the masculine singular noun fiore.

Aren't flowers often considered feminine in English? Why is fiore masculine in Italian?