Answers
Jun 13, 2011 - 09:06 AM
I'm gonna have to call in the experts on this one... will hopefully get an answer for you soon :)
Jun 13, 2011 - 09:59 AM
Sonia says that yes, it does suffice.
Jun 13, 2011 - 11:54 AM
I appreciate your response. Do you think it would be possible to reference some authoritative grammar sources on this? I can't find any.
The more I look at the l' in front of aeroporto (l' aeroporto), the more interesting it seems that it would do double duty, so to speak, by acting as the definite article for aeroporto as well as the superlative qualifier for più.
Grazie!
The more I look at the l' in front of aeroporto (l' aeroporto), the more interesting it seems that it would do double duty, so to speak, by acting as the definite article for aeroporto as well as the superlative qualifier for più.
Grazie!
Jun 13, 2011 - 12:26 PM
Still hoping to hear back from our Italian expert, but consider how in English "the" is at the same time the definite article and part of the superlative structure:
the airport/l' aeroporto
the closest/il più vicino
the closest airport/l' aeroporto più vicino
Any better?
the airport/l' aeroporto
the closest/il più vicino
the closest airport/l' aeroporto più vicino
Any better?
Jun 13, 2011 - 12:56 PM
Ciao... I understand what you are saying. But, the fact remains that the l' is being asked to apply in two different ways, one of which is perfectly fine (the l' before aeroporto), and one of which is asking the l' to act at a distance (again, so to speak) as if it were directly preceding più as well as fulfilling its role for aeroporto. It may be perfectly fine, but it somehow intuitively bothers me.
Jun 14, 2011 - 10:44 AM
The best way to see it in action is to type "l'aeroporto piú vicino" in google and you'll see various uses of it.
What is confusing is that this sentence does not use the traditional order "il piú vicino" as in- L'aeroporto di Roma è il piú vicino.
What you certainly cannot have is double articles:
Qual'è l'aeroporto il piú vicino? --
Think about is as if piú vicino is an adjective, describing airport, so you only need one article.
L'aeroport piú vicino è JFK. The closest airport is JFK.
vs.
JFK è il piú vicino. JFK is the closest one.
vs.
L'aeroporto JFK è il piú vicino. JFK airport is the closest one.
What is confusing is that this sentence does not use the traditional order "il piú vicino" as in- L'aeroporto di Roma è il piú vicino.
What you certainly cannot have is double articles:
Qual'è l'aeroporto il piú vicino? --
Think about is as if piú vicino is an adjective, describing airport, so you only need one article.
L'aeroport piú vicino è JFK. The closest airport is JFK.
vs.
JFK è il piú vicino. JFK is the closest one.
vs.
L'aeroporto JFK è il piú vicino. JFK airport is the closest one.
Jun 21, 2011 - 12:33 PM
Sometimes I get a severe mental block over something that is apparently very simple. While I see what you are saying, Sonia, I also am being confused by the following which appears on page 32 of Essential Italian Grammar by Olga Ragusa:
La mia valigia è pesante, ma la sua è più pesante. La valigia di mio marito è la più pesante.
When typed into google translate, this produces the following:
My suitcase is heavy, but his is heavier. The case of my husband is the heaviest.
This is the source of my confusion. Using the article il before più produces the -est ending while simply using più produces the -er ending. An airport can be closer as well as it can be closest, no?
La mia valigia è pesante, ma la sua è più pesante. La valigia di mio marito è la più pesante.
When typed into google translate, this produces the following:
My suitcase is heavy, but his is heavier. The case of my husband is the heaviest.
This is the source of my confusion. Using the article il before più produces the -est ending while simply using più produces the -er ending. An airport can be closer as well as it can be closest, no?
Jun 21, 2011 - 12:57 PM
Absolutely... There lies the source of confusion- the airport can be closer or the closest- it depends on context and intention.
L'aeroport piú vicino è JFK- could be either, it depends on what you mean to say. It just sounds a bit odd in English- the closer-- but yes yes yes you got it. I think you are definitely getting a good grasp behind the concept.
:)
L'aeroport piú vicino è JFK- could be either, it depends on what you mean to say. It just sounds a bit odd in English- the closer-- but yes yes yes you got it. I think you are definitely getting a good grasp behind the concept.
:)