Breakdown of Anche se è illeso, l'escursionista viene trasportato sulla barella.
essere
to be
su
on, about
anche se
even though
trasportare
to transport
l'escursionista
the hiker (m/f)
venire
to be (passive auxiliary)
la barella
the stretcher
illeso
unharmed
Questions & Answers about Anche se è illeso, l'escursionista viene trasportato sulla barella.
Why does the sentence use viene trasportato instead of è trasportato or rimane trasportato?
Using venire as the auxiliary for the passive voice strictly emphasizes the ongoing action (the dynamic passive). If we used è trasportato, it could technically be confused with a state. You wouldn't use rimane (remains) or resta here because being transported is an active process being done to him, whereas this lesson's focus—rimanere/restare + past participle—is reserved for describing a lasting state or condition resulting from an event (like rimane ferito).
Doesn't anche se usually require the subjunctive? Why is it è illeso in the indicative?
Anche se only requires the subjunctive when you are describing a hypothetical or unlikely situation, translating to "even if [something were to happen]". Because the hiker being unharmed is a known, concrete fact in this context (meaning "even though he is unharmed"), it correctly takes the indicative mood.
What is the origin of the word illeso?
Illeso translates to "unharmed" or "uninjured". It is formed from a negative prefix combined with leso, which is the past participle of the verb ledere (to harm, damage, or injure). It is a very common word in Italian news reports about accidents.
Why do we use sulla barella instead of in barella?
Both are correct, but they have slightly different nuances. In barella acts as an adverbial phrase describing the method of transport (meaning "by stretcher"), similar to saying in macchina (by car). Using sulla barella is more physical and literal, focusing on the specific object he is placed upon ("on the stretcher").
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