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Questions & Answers about Il pavimento è lucido.
Why is il used before pavimento?
il is the definite article for masculine singular nouns in Italian. Since pavimento ends in -o, it is a masculine noun, so you use il (the) to say “the floor.”
What part of speech is lucido and why does it come after è?
lucido is an adjective meaning “shiny” or “glossy.” In Italian, predicative adjectives (those linked to the subject by a verb like essere) normally follow the verb, so “è lucido” = “is shiny.”
What tense and person is è?
è is the third-person singular present indicative of the verb essere (“to be”). It translates as “he/she/it is.”
Can lucido have other meanings besides “shiny”?
Yes. Depending on context, lucido can also mean:
- “polished” (e.g. una scarpa lucida = a polished shoe)
- “clear, lucid” (figuratively, e.g. un testo lucido = a well-written, lucid text)
Are there synonyms for lucido when describing something shiny?
Certainly. Common synonyms include:
- brillante (bright, brilliant)
- lucente (luminous)
- splendente (sparkling, brilliant)
How would you make this sentence plural?
Change the article, noun, verb, and adjective to plural masculine:
I pavimenti sono lucidi.
(“The floors are shiny.”)
Why is pavimento masculine and not feminine?
In Italian, most nouns ending in -o are masculine. There are exceptions, but pavimento follows the regular pattern, so it’s masculine.
How is pavimento pronounced and where is the stress?
It’s pronounced /pa.viˈmen.to/. The stress falls on the third syllable -men-.
Could you express “The floor is shiny” in another way without essere?
Yes. For example:
- Il pavimento brilla. (“The floor shines.”)
- Il pavimento è tutto lucido. (“The floor is all shiny.”)