Breakdown of La definizione è chiara, anche se la parola ha più di un significato.
Questions & Answers about La definizione è chiara, anche se la parola ha più di un significato.
Why is it chiara and not chiaro?
Because chiara agrees with la definizione, which is a feminine singular noun.
In Italian, adjectives usually match the noun they describe in gender and number:
- la definizione chiara = the clear definition
- il testo chiaro = the clear text
- le definizioni chiare = the clear definitions
So in your sentence, chiara is feminine singular because definizione is feminine singular.
Why does è have an accent?
What does anche se mean here?
Why is it ha più di un significato and not ha più di un significati?
Because after più di un / più di una, Italian normally uses a singular noun, even though the meaning is plural.
So:
- più di un significato = more than one meaning
- più di una parola = more than one word
This is standard Italian usage. It works like a fixed pattern:
- più di un problema
- più di una volta
- più di un errore
Even though the idea is plural, the noun usually stays singular.
Why is there di in più di un significato?
Why does Italian use ha here?
Why are there definite articles in La definizione and la parola?
Italian uses definite articles more often than English, especially with nouns used in a general or identifiable way.
Here:
- La definizione = the definition
- la parola = the word
The sentence is talking about a specific definition and a specific word already understood from context.
Italian often keeps the article where English might sometimes drop it in a more abstract phrasing. For a learner, it is usually safest to include the article unless you know there is a reason not to.
Could I say anche se la parola ha più significati instead?
Yes, absolutely.
- ha più di un significato = has more than one meaning
- ha più significati = has several / multiple meanings
Both are correct, but the nuance is a little different:
- più di un significato emphasizes more than one
- più significati sounds a bit broader and less precise
So the original sentence highlights the contrast very neatly: even though the word has more than one meaning, the definition is still clear.
Why is there a comma before anche se?
Because anche se introduces a subordinate clause that adds contrast, and in Italian it is very common to separate that clause with a comma, especially when it comes after the main clause.
So:
This is natural punctuation and helps readability.
You may sometimes see variation in punctuation depending on style, but the comma here is completely normal.
Does anche se require the subjunctive?
What is the basic structure of the whole sentence?
It breaks down like this:
- La definizione = the definition
- è chiara = is clear
- anche se = even though / although
- la parola = the word
- ha = has
- più di un significato = more than one meaning
So the pattern is:
[Main clause] + [contrast clause]
- La definizione è chiara
- anche se la parola ha più di un significato
This is a very common and useful Italian sentence structure.
What exactly does significato mean here?
Could parola be replaced by termine?
Yes, in some contexts, but they are not always identical.
- parola = word
- termine = term
Termine often sounds a bit more technical, formal, or specialized.
So:
- la parola ha più di un significato = the word has more than one meaning
- il termine ha più di un significato = the term has more than one meaning
If you are talking about ordinary vocabulary, parola is the most natural choice. If you are talking about terminology, academic language, or a specialized expression, termine may fit better.
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