La risoluzione è troppo bassa.

Questions & Answers about La risoluzione è troppo bassa.

Why does the sentence start with la? In English we might just say Resolution is too low in some contexts.

Italian uses the definite article much more often than English. So la risoluzione is perfectly natural where English might say either the resolution or simply resolution.

In a full sentence, La risoluzione è troppo bassa sounds normal and complete.
In shorter labels, warnings, or interface messages, Italian may also drop the verb and sometimes the article, for example:

  • Risoluzione troppo bassa
  • La risoluzione è troppo bassa

Both can be seen, but the full sentence with la is very standard.

Why is it è with an accent?

È is the third-person singular of essere (to be), meaning is.

The accent matters because it distinguishes è from e:

  • è = is
  • e = and

So:

  • La risoluzione è troppo bassa = The resolution is too low
  • La risoluzione e la qualità = The resolution and the quality
Why is it bassa and not basso?

Because risoluzione is a feminine singular noun, and the adjective has to agree with it.

  • risoluzione = feminine singular
  • therefore bassa = feminine singular form of basso

Agreement pattern:

  • basso = masculine singular
  • bassa = feminine singular
  • bassi = masculine plural
  • basse = feminine plural

Examples:

  • Il volume è troppo basso.
  • La risoluzione è troppo bassa.
  • Le impostazioni sono troppo basse.
How do I know that risoluzione is feminine?

A very common clue is the ending -zione. Nouns ending in -zione are usually feminine.

So:

  • la risoluzione
  • la situazione
  • la lezione
  • la traduzione

That is why the sentence uses:

  • la
  • bassa
What exactly does troppo mean here?

Here troppo means too, in the sense of more than is acceptable/desirable.

So:

  • troppo bassa = too low

This is different from molto bassa, which means very low.

Compare:

  • La risoluzione è molto bassa. = The resolution is very low.
  • La risoluzione è troppo bassa. = The resolution is too low.

The second one suggests there is a problem.

Why does troppo come before bassa?

Because troppo is being used as an adverb modifying the adjective bassa. In Italian, adverbs like this normally come before the adjective.

So:

  • troppo bassa = too low
  • molto bassa = very low
  • abbastanza bassa = fairly low

Putting troppo after bassa would not sound natural in this sentence.

Does troppo change form here?

No. In this sentence, troppo is an adverb, so it stays troppo.

  • troppo bassa
  • troppo basso
  • troppo alti

It does not agree with the noun when it functions as an adverb.

But troppo can also be an adjective or pronoun, and then it does agree:

  • Ho troppo lavoro. = I have too much work.
  • Ho troppa fame. = I’m too hungry / I have too much hunger.
  • Ci sono troppi problemi. = There are too many problems.

So in La risoluzione è troppo bassa, it is adverbial and stays troppo.

Could I also say La risoluzione è molto bassa?

Yes, but the meaning changes.

  • molto bassa = very low
  • troppo bassa = too low

Use molto when you are describing a high degree.
Use troppo when that degree is excessive or causes a problem.

So if an image cannot be used because the resolution is insufficient, troppo bassa is the better choice.

Can risoluzione here specifically mean image or screen resolution?

Yes. In modern Italian, risoluzione is the normal word for resolution in technical contexts such as:

  • image resolution
  • screen resolution
  • video resolution
  • print resolution

So La risoluzione è troppo bassa is exactly the kind of sentence you might see when talking about a photo, video, monitor setting, or uploaded file.

Can the word order change?

The normal, neutral order is:

Italian can change word order for emphasis, but that is less neutral. For example:

  • È troppo bassa, la risoluzione.

This can sound more emphatic or conversational, as if you are stressing the problem. For most learners, the standard version is the best one to use.

How is this sentence pronounced?

A simple pronunciation guide is:

la ree-zoh-loo-TSYOH-neh eh TROHP-poh BAHS-sah

A few points:

  • z in risoluzione sounds like ts
  • zione is pronounced roughly TSYOH-neh
  • è is an open eh
  • pp and ss are doubled consonants, so they are pronounced more strongly than in English

A more accurate IPA transcription is:

[la rizolutˈtsjone ɛ ˈtrɔppo ˈbassa]

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