Breakdown of Il fatto che questa bufala circola online è ovvio.
essere
to be
questa
this (feminine)
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
ovvio
obvious
il fatto
the fact
online
online, on the internet
la bufala
hoax
circolare
to circulate
Questions & Answers about Il fatto che questa bufala circola online è ovvio.
Why does this sentence use the indicative circola after il fatto che instead of the subjunctive?
In Italian, il fatto che (the fact that) takes the indicative when it introduces an objective, undeniable reality. Because the sentence explicitly states that this circulation is an obvious fact (è ovvio), the indicative circola is the correct choice. If the sentence were expressing a personal feeling or subjective evaluation about the fact (like 'it is sad that this hoax circulates'), you would use the subjunctive.
Doesn't bufala mean buffalo? Why is it translated as "hoax"?
Could I just start the sentence with Che instead of Il fatto che?
You can, but it changes the grammar. If you start a sentence with Che acting as the subject (meaning 'That this hoax circulates...'), Italian requires the subjunctive: Che questa bufala circoli online è ovvio. Using Il fatto che is a useful way to keep the verb in the indicative when you want to emphasize an objective reality.
How is the English word online treated in Italian grammar?
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