Breakdown of Il fatto che il complottista diffonda la diceria è grave.
essere
to be
grave
serious, grave (severe)
che
that (conjunction introducing a clause)
diffondere
to spread
il fatto
the fact
la diceria
the rumor (hearsay)
il complottista
the conspiracy theorist
Questions & Answers about Il fatto che il complottista diffonda la diceria è grave.
Why do we use the subjunctive diffonda here instead of the indicative?
This highlights the core rule for il fatto che! We use the subjunctive here because the main clause (è grave) expresses a subjective judgment or emotional reaction. You aren't just objectively reporting that he spreads the rumor; you are evaluating that fact as 'serious.' If you were just stating an objective consequence, like 'The fact that he spreads the rumor makes him famous' (Il fatto che diffonde la diceria lo rende famoso), you would use the indicative.
The word complottista ends in '-a'. Why is it preceded by the masculine article il?
Nouns ending in -ista that refer to people (like complottista, turista, or giornalista) have the exact same form for masculine and feminine in the singular. You rely on the article to show the person's gender. Here, il complottista tells us this is a male conspiracy theorist. If it were a woman, it would be la complottista.
What is the base verb for diffonda?
The infinitive is diffondere (to spread or diffuse). While its present subjunctive (diffonda) follows the regular pattern for an -ere verb, it's worth noting for future reference that its past participle is irregular: diffuso.
I usually see voce used for 'rumor'. What is the difference between voce and diceria?
Voce (literally 'voice') is the most common and neutral way to say 'rumor' in Italian, often used in the phrase gira voce che (word is going around that). Diceria, used in this sentence, carries a stronger negative connotation; it specifically refers to malicious gossip, hearsay, or an unfounded tale.
Learn Il fatto che il complottista diffonda la diceria è grave and more in Italian
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free