Breakdown of Il bambino è bravo a disegnare.
essere
to be
a
at
il bambino
the boy
disegnare
to draw
bravo
good
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Questions & Answers about Il bambino è bravo a disegnare.
What does "Il bambino" mean, and why is the article "il" used here?
"Il bambino" translates to "the child" in English. The word "il" is the masculine singular definite article in Italian and is used because "bambino" (child) is a masculine noun.
What is the role of the verb "è" in this sentence?
The verb "è" comes from "essere" and means "is". It functions as the linking verb that connects the subject "Il bambino" with the adjective phrase "bravo a disegnare", telling us something about the child.
Why is the adjective "bravo" used, and how does it agree with the noun in the sentence?
"Bravo" means "good" or "skilled". It is used to describe the child’s ability. In Italian, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since "bambino" is masculine singular, "bravo" remains in its masculine singular form. If referring to a girl (e.g., "la bambina"), the adjective would change to "brava".
Why is the preposition "a" placed before "disegnare", and what does it indicate?
In Italian, when expressing someone’s ability or skill in performing an activity, the pattern "essere bravo a" is used. The preposition "a" connects the adjective "bravo" to the activity expressed by the infinitive verb "disegnare" (to draw), signaling that the child is good at drawing.
Is the structure "essere bravo a + infinitive" common in Italian, and can it be applied with other activities?
Yes, the construction "essere bravo a" is very common in Italian. It is used to highlight proficiency in various activities. For example, you can say "Lei è brava a cantare" (She is good at singing) or "Lui è bravo a cucinare" (He is good at cooking). This pattern helps emphasize someone's skills in a particular area.
How does the overall sentence structure of "Il bambino è bravo a disegnare" compare to English sentence structure?
The Italian sentence follows a subject-verb-complement structure similar to English. "Il bambino" (subject) is followed by "è" (verb) and "bravo a disegnare" (complement). Although both languages follow a subject-verb-adjective/infinitive pattern, Italian requires specific prepositions (like "a") to properly link adjectives to infinitive verbs, highlighting a difference learners should note.