Log inSign up

La nave è al molo.

La nave è al molo.
The ship is at the pier.
FromLesson 56inHardcore Italian
…

Breakdown of La nave è al molo.

essere
to be
a
at
la nave
the ship
il molo
the pier

Questions & Answers about La nave è al molo.

Why is the definite article la used before nave?
Nave is a feminine singular noun in Italian, so it takes the feminine singular article la.
What’s the difference between nave and barca?
  • Nave usually refers to a larger seagoing vessel (like a ship).
  • Barca is a smaller boat, often used for shorter trips or in rivers/lakes.
What does è mean, and how is it different from e?
  • è (with accent) is the third-person singular of essere (to be), meaning is.
  • e (without accent) means and.
What is al in al molo?
Al is the contraction of the preposition a (to/at) + the masculine singular article il, so al = a + il.
Why is it al and not alla?
  • Alla is a + la (feminine singular).
  • Molo is masculine, so we use il, giving al.
Why al molo instead of nel molo or just molo?
  • A expresses being at a place or point (at the dock).
  • In expresses being inside something; nel = in + il would mean “inside the dock.”
  • Omitting the preposition would sound unnatural: Italians normally use a with molo in this context.
Could you say sul molo instead of al molo?
  • Sul = su + il (on the dock), emphasizing the surface.
  • Al molo (a + il molo) is more common for indicating that something is stationed at the quay.
  • Both are grammatically correct but carry a slight nuance: sul is more “on,” al more “at.”
How would you say “The ships are at the dock” in Italian?

Use the plural forms:
Le navi sono al molo.

More from this lesson

Indosso una felpa così comoda come il tuo maglione.tantoquantoIl tappeto del soggiorno è tanto morbido quanto quello della camera da letto.quelloBevo un caffè forte come quello che prepari tu ogni mattina.Questa matita è tanto lunga quanto la mia penna.la scorza
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Italian grammar?”
Italian grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Italian

Master Italian — from La nave è al molo to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Italian freeBrowse the full course