L'applauso al concerto è lungo.

to be

Breakdown of L'applauso al concerto è lungo.

• lungo: long
• al: at
• il concerto: the concert

Questions & Answers about L'applauso al concerto è lungo.

Why is l’ used before applauso?

In Italian the definite article il must elide (drop its vowel) before a noun starting with a vowel. So il applauso becomes l’applauso. The apostrophe marks that elision.

Why do we need an article before applauso, when in English we often say just “applause”?

English treats “applause” as a mass noun and omits the article in general statements. Italian, by contrast, normally requires a definite article before singular countable nouns in generic expressions. Hence l’applauso rather than simply applauso.

What does al in al concerto stand for?

al is the combination of the preposition a (“to/at”) and the masculine singular article il (“the”). So al concerto literally means “at the concert.”

Why is the adjective lungo placed after è instead of before applauso?

Most Italian adjectives follow the noun (and the linking verb essere, here è). Placing lungo after applauso and è is the unmarked, neutral word order. Putting an adjective before the noun (e.g. il lungo applauso) is possible but carries a slight stylistic or emphatic nuance.

Could we say instead of ?