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Questions & Answers about Il concerto finisce tardi.
Why is il used before concerto?
Italian generally requires a definite article before a singular, countable noun when referring to a specific or general thing. Il is the masculine singular definite article that matches concerto (a masculine noun).
What is the part of speech of tardi, and why is there no preposition?
Tardi is an adverb of time meaning late. Adverbs in Italian typically do not take prepositions. If you want to say someone is late, you’d use essere in ritardo instead of adding a preposition to tardi.
What does finisce mean and how is it formed?
Finisce is the third person singular present indicative of finire (to finish/end). Finire is an –IRE verb that inserts -isc- before the endings in all persons except noi and voi:
• io finisco
• tu finisci
• lui/lei finisce
• noi finiamo
• voi finite
• loro finiscono
Why is the adverb tardi placed at the end of the sentence?
Italian adverbs of time most commonly follow the verb. The pattern subject + verb + time adverb is the most natural order. Moving tardi elsewhere can sound marked or emphatic.
Could I use the present tense here to talk about the future, e.g., a scheduled event?
Yes. In Italian, the present tense can describe scheduled future events. Saying Il concerto finisce tardi can mean “The concert finishes late” in general or “The concert will finish late” when referring to a timetable.
How would you say the concert ended late (past tense)?
Use the passato prossimo:
Il concerto è finito tardi.
Literally “The concert has finished late,” but it’s the standard way to say “the concert ended late.”
Can I replace finisce with termina or conclude?
Yes. Terminare and concludere both mean “to end.” You can say:
• Il concerto termina tardi.
• Il concerto si conclude tardi.
Is it possible to omit the article and just say Concerto finisce tardi?
No. In Italian, you generally cannot drop the definite article before singular common nouns in a simple statement. Concerto finisce tardi sounds ungrammatical; you need Il concerto finisce tardi.