Dietro il portico c’è un laghetto con due barche di legno.

Behind the porch there is a small lake with two wooden boats.

Breakdown of Dietro il portico c’è un laghetto con due barche di legno.

• essere: to be
• di: of
• con: with
• due: two

Questions & Answers about Dietro il portico c’è un laghetto con due barche di legno.

What does portico mean in this sentence?

Portico is a covered walkway or porch supported by columns. In English you might call it a “portico,” “porch,” or “colonnade,” depending on the setting.

Why is it dietro il portico and not dietro al portico or dietro del portico?

Dietro is a simple preposition and in standard Italian it does not contract with the definite article. You say dietro il portico, not dietro al portico. Using del would mean “of the,” which doesn’t make sense here.

Why is it c’è here? Could we say ci sono instead?

C’è is the contraction of ci è (“there is”) and is used for singular things. Since un laghetto is singular, you use c’è. If you had a plural noun—dei laghetti, for example—you would say ci sono (“there are”).

What does laghetto mean, and what does the suffix -etto add?

Laghetto is the diminutive of lago, so it literally means “small lake” or “pond.” The suffix -etto softens the meaning, implying smaller size or an affectionate nuance.