Question 1

Why is there no article before simbolo? The English translation says 'the symbol'.

Accepted Answer

This is a special rule for appositives (phrases set off by commas that rename or describe a noun). In Italian, when you define a proper noun like Roma with a noun phrase immediately after it, you must drop the definite article. So you say Roma, simbolo rather than Roma, il simbolo.

Question 2

Since we dropped the article before simbolo, why do we still use it in dell'antico?

Accepted Answer

The rule about dropping the article only applies to the head noun of the descriptive phrase (simbolo). The ancient empire is a specific entity that requires its own definite article (l'antico impero). When you connect them with di (of), it combines with l' to form dell'.

Question 3

Why is the adjective piena feminine?

Accepted Answer

It describes Roma. In Italian, cities are treated as grammatically feminine. While Roma conveniently ends in -a, this rule applies even to cities that do not, like Naples (Napoli è bellissima) or Milan (Milano è caotica).

Question 4

Why does the adjective antico come before the noun impero instead of after it?

Accepted Answer

While most descriptive adjectives follow the noun, adjectives denoting age or time (like antico, vecchio, nuovo) often come before it. Placing antico before impero here emphasizes the inherent, historical nature of the empire rather than distinguishing it from a 'modern' empire.

Question 5

Why is it piena di rovine instead of piena con rovine?

Accepted Answer

The adjective pieno (full) always takes the preposition di in Italian. Even if you might translate it in your head as 'filled with', you can never use con in this context.

Roma, simbolo dell'antico impero, è piena di rovine.

Breakdown of Roma, simbolo dell'antico impero, è piena di rovine.

Questions & Answers about Roma, simbolo dell'antico impero, è piena di rovine.

Learn Roma, simbolo dell'antico impero, è piena di rovine and more in Italian