Breakdown of L'equipaggio dorme in barca.
in
in / made of (material)
dormire
to sleep
la barca
the boat
l'equipaggio
the crew
Questions & Answers about L'equipaggio dorme in barca.
Why does Italian use the singular dorme when the English translation says "The crew are sleeping"?
L'equipaggio (the crew) is a collective noun. In Italian, collective nouns referring to groups of people are strictly singular and always take the "he/she/it" verb form. Even though a crew has many members, the word itself is grammatically singular, so the verb must be dorme.
Why is the preposition in used instead of su (on) for "on the boat"?
In Italian, the preposition in is generally used with modes of transportation without an article (like in macchina or in treno). For boats, in barca is the natural idiom to say someone is "on a boat" or travelling by boat.
Could I say nella barca instead of just in barca?
Yes, but it changes the nuance slightly. In barca is the general expression for being on board a boat. If you say nella barca (in the boat) or sulla barca (on the boat), you are emphasizing a specific, physical boat rather than the general state of being on board.
Does l'equipaggio only refer to a boat's crew?
No, l'equipaggio applies to the crew of any vehicle. You will hear it used for airplane crews, submarine crews, and even spacecraft!
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