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L’aereo atterra su una pista illuminata da luci blu.

L’aereo atterra su una pista illuminata da luci blu.
The plane lands on a runway lit by blue lights.
FromLesson 31inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of L’aereo atterra su una pista illuminata da luci blu.

su
on
la luce
the light
da
by
la pista
the runway
l’aereo
the plane
atterrare
to land
illuminato
lit
blu
blue

Questions & Answers about L’aereo atterra su una pista illuminata da luci blu.

Why is there an apostrophe in L’aereo?
Because the definite article il is elided before a vowel to avoid a hiatus. So il aereo becomes l’aereo.
Why is atterra in the present tense? Can't we use past or future?
In Italian the simple present can describe actions happening right now, just like English “The plane lands.” If you want past you’d say l’aereo è atterrato, and for future l’aereo atterrerà.
What is the function of su in atterra su una pista? Could we use in?
Su means “on” or “onto” and implies movement onto a surface. You land su a runway. Using in una pista would sound like you’re inside a runway, which doesn’t fit.
Can I say sulla pista instead of su una pista?
Yes. Su + la contracts to sulla, giving “on the runway.” That’s definite. Su una pista is indefinite (“on a runway”).
Why is illuminata feminine singular?
Illuminata is the past participle of illuminare used adjectivally. It agrees in gender and number with pista, which is feminine singular.
Why do we use da luci blu and not di luci blu?
In a passive‐style structure, da introduces the agent or cause (“by blue lights”). You could also say illuminata con luci blu, where con indicates the instrument.
Why is blu invariable and not blui or blua?
Blu is one of the Italian color adjectives that remain the same for masculine/feminine and singular/plural.
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