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- Topic: Italian >
- "They are butterflies."
"They are butterflies."
Translation:Sono farfalle.
57 Comments
So... "Loro sono le farfalle" is wrong? I thought there could be an article there.
Loro is more for people, you could use essi for butterflies, but it isn't necessary. Keep in mind the subject pronoun never has to be expressed unless that is the emphasis of the sentence, for example Io non sono un uomo, lui è un uomo. The sentence wouldn't be grammatically incorrect without the subject pronouns, but your audience might not understand you without lui.
546
Non penso che se scrivo in italiano "loro sono farfalle " me lo considerino errore. Non vedo perché lo sia per Duolingo.
- 149
If we'd be talking about kids dressed up as butterflies we definitely would say: "Loro sono farfalle". So this answer should be accepted
But what about the article "le" ?
And besides that, the hint "farfalla" is wrong for "butterflies" ? It is shown "farfalla (plural)".
The use of definite articles (le, la, gli...) and partitives (dei, delle...) is complex, and there's a discussion going on here: http://duolingo.com/#/comment/295808 feel free to follow it. But here are a few examples that may clear up the situation:
I eat bread
Io mangio pane: this is a literal translation. It isn't grammatically incorrect in Italian, it is just that plenty of times the sentence does sound better with a definite article or a partitive. Simple way to start learning the vocabulary, right?
Io mangio il pane: don't confuse this with always meaning the bread. Using the definite article in Italian can make a sentence a generalization (I am a bread-eater) in addition to the function of the definite article you already know (I eat the bread we spoke of).
Io mangio del pane: partitives are like 'some'. They make the sentence flow, and they make sure you understand that an indefinite quantity is being discussed. Again, the partitive isn't absolutely necessary. The use of the definite article and the partitive goes beyond grammar--to speak another language, you have to think differently as well, and when you speak a romance language, you start giving importance to things you wouldn't have in English ;)
I think, we were taught , that " loro" is not necessary, but now it seems to be wrong??????????????
- 302
The English of your sentence = They are the butterflies. But the DL sentence = They are butterflies.
No "the," no "le."
Different languages are not just blind word-swaps of each other. Just because a language uses an article (or not) in a certain context does not mean the other language is obligated to do the same.
"Loro sono farfalle." is wrong, why? I thought, I could say "Sono farfalle" as well as the longer version "Loro sono farfalle" - both should be correct!?
I don't know this, but it seems the pronouns such as "loro" are used for people, not things.
- 149
Exactly, so if you have a bunch of kids dressed up as butterflies the sentence should be OK
'Loro' worked for chickens. This is ridiculous. They only pull this stuff when you can lose hearts, never in a review
"sono le farfalle" is wrong? I know you don't always need the article here, but I didn't think it was wrong to include it here either.
- 302
Check this out. Loro is used in reference to both people AND animals. It's the third person plural pronoun, personhood not required. I Reported when DL said Loro sono farfalle was wrong.
https://www.thoughtco.com/forgotten-italian-subject-pronouns-2011380
- 149
Thanks. Interesting article. So DL still refuses to acknowledge “Loro” even though so many people have reported this issue. The only good thing is that in real life conversation we do not have to deal with algorithms and this sentence would be perfectly understood by a native speaker.
ah, that's why bowtie pasta's called farfalle :D they're like little butterflies. that's so cute for some reason.
Farfalle is also the shape of pasta in Italy that looks like a butterfly / hair ribbon. Italian is so funny at times :)
- 149
If we'd be talking about kids dressed up as butterflies we definitely would say: "Loro sono farfalle". So this answer should be accepted
No one here can do anything about that. You will need to flag it next time and report "My answer should be accepted."
Please explain me why sometimes the subject is omitted and others no. In this excersise I wrote "Loro sono farfalle" and you say it is "wrong"? ¡Why?
You can pretty much always omit the subject pronoun in Italian.
I think what's going on here is that Duolingo forgot to mention that "loro" is only for people. The tips and notes say that "essi/esse" is archaic/literary, but apparently it's for non-human references.
- 149
I am not so sure about that. Plus in one of my previous comments I mentioned the situation when "loro" would be necessary in this sentence.
Here is a link where this quote: "Loro is used with reference to people and, especially in spoken Italian, also to refer to animals." comes from:
https://www.thoughtco.com/forgotten-italian-subject-pronouns-2011380
- 149
yes, this is on of those instances when we really do.
But picture a situation when you are pointing at a group of kids dressed up as butterflies for a party and what would you say? I guess "Loro sono farfalle" would be correct.
It's confused me that 'loro sono farfalle' has been judged as wrong, I thought 'sono' and 'loro sono' were equally acceptable
- 149
This is a link to an article which suggest that “loro” is used for animals as well. (a quote: “ Loro is used with reference to people and, especially in spoken Italian, also to refer to animals.”)
https://www.thoughtco.com/forgotten-italian-subject-pronouns-2011380
According to f.formica, course contributor and native Italian speaker:
I wouldn’t accept “loro sono pesci” because it feels too unnatural to hear: it might work with something like “loro sono i miei pesci” - if someone was showing off their aquarium.
- 149
I see. How about this scenario, then:
Picture a situation when you are pointing at a group of kids dressed up as butterflies for a party and what would you say? I guess "Loro sono farfalle" would be correct.
Yes, I've seen that mentioned several times. That's a clever loophole that skirts the point of the lesson.
- 10
Yes but you have not taught that lesson. I am always amazed at inconsistencies in lessons. Duo Lingo...you cant have it both ways if you dont explain it. I have taught languages for 40 years.
So farfalle is plural and farfalla is singular I'm assuming. What is the rule for plurals according to the endings? I put farfalli which is incorrect. This is my guess for endings: change e to an i for plurals and change a to an e. Is this correct?
I am so grateful for duolingo! I know it doesn't give textbook explanations which can be frustrating, but there are so many other resources we can use for textbook explanations. There are not, however, a lot of places you can practice hearing and seeing in other languages for free.
there are both masculine and feminine nouns in Italian. la farfalla becomes le farfalle, il insetto becomes loro insetti. (I'm a real beginner, but that's how it seems to me at this point.)
You have the right idea, but you're not quite getting the articles right. This link should help: https://ciaoitaliablog.wordpress.com/classes/italian-definite-article/
An even better page on that blog is this one, with lot of sing-along songs in easily understood Italian. I learned German and Danish through singing. This is great: https://ciaoitaliablog.wordpress.com/italian-songs/
- 201
The article may not be necessary, but how on gods green earth is "Loro Sono farfalle" the wrong answer? I'm sure if you said that to a native italian speaker they'd understand perfectly and wouldn't looked at you as if you were mental.
Understand of you just because, mean always not grammar-good.
"Loro" is for people. According to f.formica, course contributor and native Italian speaker:
I wouldn’t accept “loro sono pesci” because it feels too unnatural to hear: it might work with something like “loro sono i miei pesci” - if someone was showing off their aquarium.
- 10
Look again they dont teach that lesson....then they switch...you must have the ARTICLE...then you dont...then this comoany doesnt always ad your hearts up right...qnd by tge way I had native soeakers soeak the lines...and it will show a word in red.....as if not spoken correctly....another issue is when they try to create differences in eating lunch or another examole...when we eat dinner....ceniamo etc. Look rhey cant have it both ways....i qm thinking of switching to a better company...DO NOT TAKE THE CHINESE COURSE....THERE ARE A LOT OF ISSUES.
