Breakdown of L'orologio antico è di metallo.
essere
to be
di
of
il metallo
the metal
l'orologio
the clock
antico
antique
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Questions & Answers about L'orologio antico è di metallo.
Why do we write L'orologio with an apostrophe instead of lo orologio?
In Italian, the masculine singular definite article lo is used before words starting with s+consonant, z, gn, ps, x, etc. Before a vowel, lo contracts to l', so l'orologio is simply the correct form of lo orologio.
What does antico mean and how is it different from vecchio?
Antico implies something very old, often with historical or collectible value (an antique). Vecchio just means old or worn out in a general sense, without the nuance of age as worth or rarity.
Why is antico placed after the noun instead of before it?
Most Italian adjectives follow the noun for a neutral description, so orologio antico is the standard order. Placing an adjective before the noun (like antico orologio) can add emphasis or a poetic/literary tone.
What does è di metallo mean and why do we use di here?
È di metallo means “it is made of metal.” The preposition di is used to indicate the material something is composed of.
Could we say in metallo instead of di metallo?
Yes. Both di metallo and in metallo are correct. In + material (e.g. in vetro, in plastica) is very common, especially for furniture or objects. Di focuses on composition, while in often emphasizes the material as a characteristic.
Why is there no article before metallo?
When you specify material with di or in, Italian omits the article: you say di metallo, not del metallo. Adding il or del would imply a specific metal rather than metal in general.
Can we replace di metallo with fatto di metallo? How would that change the nuance?
Yes. Fatto di metallo literally means “made of metal,” emphasizing the process or craftsmanship. È di metallo is shorter and more direct, simply stating the material.
What tense and person is è, and could we change L' to Un instead?
È is the third-person singular present indicative of essere (“to be”). Using Un instead of L' gives Un orologio antico è di metallo, meaning “An antique clock is made of metal” (indefinite) rather than “The antique clock is made of metal” (definite).