Il sole sorge a est e tramonta a ovest.

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Breakdown of Il sole sorge a est e tramonta a ovest.

• il sole: the sun
• a: in
• sorgere: to rise

Questions & Answers about Il sole sorge a est e tramonta a ovest.

Why do we say il sole instead of just sole, and when do we need definite articles in Italian?

In Italian, almost all singular, countable nouns require a definite article even in general statements. So you always say il sole, la casa, il gatto, whereas in English you can sometimes drop the (e.g. “Dogs are friendly”). There are exceptions (names of cities, months, sports), but for everyday objects and living beings you almost always include the article.

What do sorge and tramonta mean, and how are they conjugated?

They are the third‑person singular present indicative forms of the verbs sorgere (to rise) and tramontare (to set). Both are regular in their respective conjugations:

• sorgere (–ere verb): sorge, sorgi, sorgiamo, sorgete, sorgono…
• tramontare (–are verb): tramonta, tramonti, tramontiamo, tramontate, tramontano…
  You use them primarily for celestial bodies (the sun, the moon): “La luna sorge a est e tramonta a ovest.”

Why is the preposition a used before est and ovest, and can we use something else?