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Il tuo libro è su questo tavolo.

Il tuo libro è su questo tavolo.
Your book is on this table.
From Lesson 49:Simple prepositions (con, per, su, tra)·Italian

Questions & Answers about Il tuo libro è su questo tavolo.

Why is the preposition su alone here instead of combining into sul?
The preposition su means "on". Usually, when it is followed by "the", it combines with the article (for example, sul tavolo means "on the table"). However, because this sentence uses questo (this) instead of "the", there is no article for su to combine with. So, it stays as a simple, separate word.
Why do we say il tuo libro instead of just tuo libro?
In English, we just say "your book". But in Italian, possessive words like tuo (your) usually need a definite article like il or la in front of them. You are literally saying "the your book". The main exception is for singular family members (like mia madre), but for regular objects, always include the article!
What is the difference between tavolo and tavola?
They both mean "table", but are used differently. Il tavolo (masculine, used here) refers to the physical piece of furniture. La tavola (feminine) usually refers to a table that is set for a meal. Since a book is just sitting on the physical furniture, tavolo is the correct choice here.
Why is it questo tavolo instead of questa tavolo?
The word for "this" has to match the gender and number of the noun it points to. Because tavolo is a masculine singular noun, it takes the masculine singular form questo. If the book were on a chair (sedia, which is feminine), you would say su questa sedia.

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