Quello zaino è leggero.

That backpack is light.

Breakdown of Quello zaino è leggero.

• essere: to be
• lo zaino: the backpack
• leggero: light
• quello: that

Questions & Answers about Quello zaino è leggero.

Why do we use quello instead of quel before zaino?

Because in Italian the demonstrative adjective quello changes form depending on the initial letter of the noun. For masculine singular nouns that begin with z, s+consonant, gn, ps, x, etc., you use quello. With most other consonants you’d use quel, for example quel libro.

Why is there a grave accent on è?

The grave accent on è distinguishes it from e (the conjunction “and”) and marks it as the third-person singular present of essere (“to be”). Without the accent, you’d confuse “is” with “and.”

Why don’t we say il quello zaino or lo quello zaino?

Demonstrative adjectives like quello already act as determiners in Italian, so you never combine them with a definite article. Saying il quello zaino would be ungrammatical.

Why is the adjective leggero placed after the verb essere rather than before the noun?

Italian adjectives normally follow the noun or the linking verb essere. To say “it is light,” you put the adjective after the verb: è leggero. Placing it before (e.g. leggero zaino) is unusual in everyday speech and feels poetic or emphatic.