Question 1

Why use il che here instead of just che?

Accepted Answer

Normally, che refers back to a specific noun. However, in this sentence, the word which does not refer to a single noun. It refers to the entire situation of the population aging. When you need to refer back to a complete previous statement, you use il che.

Question 2

How is the verb invecchia formed?

Accepted Answer

It comes from the adjective vecchio, meaning old. Italian often creates verbs from adjectives by adding the prefix in- at the beginning and an ending like -are or -ire at the end. So, the verb invecchiare literally means to get old or to age.

Question 3

Does grave mean a literal grave in the ground?

Accepted Answer

No, here grave is an adjective meaning serious or severe, just like in English when we talk about a grave mistake. If you want to talk about a burial place, the correct Italian word is tomba.

Question 4

What does the word calo mean?

Accepted Answer

A calo is a drop, decrease, or decline. You will often see this word used in the news to talk about falling numbers, such as a drop in population, prices, or temperature. It comes from the verb calare, meaning to drop or to go down.

La popolazione invecchia, il che produce un grave calo.

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