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L'arbitro ferma la partita.

L'arbitro ferma la partita.
The referee stops the match.
From Lesson 126:Reflexive imperatives (alzati)·Italian

Questions & Answers about L'arbitro ferma la partita.

Why does the sentence use ferma instead of the reflexive si ferma?
Because the referee is stopping something else (the match). In Italian, you use the standard verb fermare when you stop an object or another person. You only use the reflexive fermarsi (si ferma) when someone stops themselves, like pausing while walking.
How do I know if L'arbitro is masculine or feminine here?
Arbitro ends in -o, which tells us it is a masculine noun. The article L' is used for both masculine and feminine singular words that start with a vowel. If it were a female referee, the word would be l'arbitra.
What is the difference between partita and gioco?
Partita specifically means an organized sports match or a round of a game (like a football match or a game of chess). Gioco refers to a game in a more general sense, the concept of play, or a physical toy.
Which syllable gets the stress in the word arbitro?
The stress falls on the first syllable: ÀR-bi-tro. In Italian, most words are stressed on the second-to-last syllable, but arbitro is a common exception you will need to memorize.

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