Learn Italian: Questa frase è troppo lunga.

Questa frase è troppo lunga.

This sentence is too long.

Breakdown of Questa frase è troppo lunga.

too, too much, too many

lungo

long

Questions & Answers about Questa frase è troppo lunga.

How do we know that frase is feminine since it ends in -e?

Nouns ending in -e can be either masculine or feminine in Italian. However, this sentence gives you two clear clues: the feminine word Questa (this) and the feminine adjective lunga (long) both agree with the noun, showing us that frase is feminine.

Why is it troppo and not troppa to match the feminine word frase?

In this sentence, troppo is acting as an adverb meaning 'too' because it describes the adjective lunga. Adverbs are invariable, meaning their endings never change. Troppo only changes its ending when it acts as an adjective meaning 'too much' or 'too many' (like in troppa pasta).

If I wanted to say 'That sentence' instead of 'This sentence', how would the first word change?

You would replace Questa (this) with Quella (that). Just like Questa, Quella is a feminine singular word that must agree with the feminine noun frase.