Breakdown of Il turista si sente a suo agio in città.
in
in
la città
the city
il turista
the tourist
sentirsi
to feel
a suo agio
at ease
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Questions & Answers about Il turista si sente a suo agio in città.
What is the function of the reflexive pronoun si in this sentence?
The si is used with the reflexive verb sentirsi to show that the subject (the tourist) experiences the action on himself. In Italian, many verbs that describe feelings are reflexive, so si sente means “feels” with the sense that the tourist is feeling a certain way.
What does the phrase a suo agio mean, and why is it used here?
A suo agio translates as “at ease” or “comfortable” in English. It is an idiomatic expression that describes someone’s state of comfort or relaxation. In this sentence, it tells us that the tourist feels comfortable in the city.
How is the verb sentirsi properly conjugated in this sentence, and what does this tell us about the subject?
The verb sentirsi is conjugated as si sente in the third person singular to match the subject il turista (the tourist). This agreement confirms that the sentence is talking about one person who is feeling a particular way.
Can you explain the overall structure of the sentence Il turista si sente a suo agio in città?
Certainly. The sentence begins with the subject il turista (the tourist), followed by the reflexive verb si sente (feels), then the adjective phrase a suo agio (at ease/comfortable), and finally the prepositional phrase in città (in the city) that specifies location. This straightforward structure is similar to English and helps convey the complete idea clearly.
Why do Italian speakers often use reflexive verbs like sentirsi to express feelings?
In Italian, many verbs that describe internal states or emotions are reflexive. Using sentirsi emphasizes that the feeling is experienced by the subject. It’s a grammatical pattern that helps clarify that the action is happening to the person themselves, which is why expressions like “feels comfortable” are rendered with a reflexive verb in Italian.
What does the locational phrase in città add to the sentence?
The phrase in città specifies where the tourist feels at ease. It grounds the sentence in a particular setting—“in the city”—providing additional context that completes the picture of the tourist’s experience.