Question 1

Does lo in lo sento just replace the noun presagio?

Accepted Answer

It could, but here it acts as a pro-clausal pronoun. This means lo replaces the entire preceding statement, rather than just the masculine noun. You are expressing 'I feel that there is a good omen here' rather than just 'I feel the omen'. When replacing a whole idea or fact, lo is always invariable.

Question 2

If the sentence were plural (Ci sono dei buoni presagi qui), would lo sento change to li sento?

Accepted Answer

It depends on your exact meaning. If you are referring directly to the omens themselves, you would use li sento to mean 'I feel them'. However, if you are still using the pro-clausal lo to mean 'I feel the fact that they are here', it remains lo sento. This invariable lo is incredibly versatile for referencing entire concepts regardless of the gender or number of the nouns involved.

Question 3

Why is it buon presagio instead of buono presagio?

Accepted Answer

The adjective buono drops its final letter before most masculine singular nouns. The rule of thumb is that buon follows the exact same pattern as the indefinite article un. Since you would say un presagio, you must say buon presagio. You only keep the full buono before masculine nouns that take uno, such as buono studente.

Question 4

Could I use the verb provare instead of sentire for feeling an omen?

Accepted Answer

Not naturally. In Italian, provare is generally used for experiencing specific internal emotions (like joy or sadness) or physically testing something out. Sentire is the correct verb for the five physical senses as well as perceiving an external atmosphere, a vague intuition, or a presence like an omen.

C'è un buon presagio qui, lo sento.

Breakdown of C'è un buon presagio qui, lo sento.

Questions & Answers about C'è un buon presagio qui, lo sento.

Learn C'è un buon presagio qui, lo sento and more in Italian