Question 1

Where exactly does c'è come from?

Accepted Answer

C'è means "there is" or, as in this question, "is there". It is a combination of the word ci (there) and è (is). Because è starts with a vowel, the i in ci is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe to make it flow better when speaking.

Question 2

How do I know this is a question if it starts with c'è (there is)?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, you don't need to swap words around to make a question like we do in English ("there is" vs. "is there"). A statement and a question can have the exact same word order: C'è un museo (There is a museum) and C'è un museo? (Is there a museum?). You simply raise the pitch of your voice at the end when speaking.

Question 3

Why is the word order museo moderno instead of moderno museo?

Accepted Answer

In Italian, most descriptive adjectives come after the noun they describe. So instead of "modern museum", you say "museum modern" (museo moderno). Notice how moderno ends in -o to perfectly match the masculine singular noun museo.

Question 4

The English translation says "in the square", so why is there no word for "the" before piazza?

Accepted Answer

Certain common locations in a town use the preposition in without an article. In piazza is a set phrase meaning "in the square". You will also see this rule with other places, such as in banca (at the bank) or in farmacia (at the pharmacy).

C'è un museo moderno in piazza?

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