"They are butterflies."
Translation:Sono farfalle.
148 CommentsThis discussion is locked.
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.
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Non penso che se scrivo in italiano "loro sono farfalle " me lo considerino errore. Non vedo perché lo sia per Duolingo.
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 ;)
"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.
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Look, those people there with the winged costumes! What are they supposed to be? - They (people) are butterflies.
... right?
Right
I said exactly that a year ago
but this would be a stretch
When we talk about a real butterflies loro doesn’t work
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The charismatic folks holding glasses of wine and chatting with scrive at the party.... They are (social) butterflies.
Ohhh, I hadn't heard that before. I used loro like Nancelot and didn't understand why I was wrong. I'll keep my eyes open for this!
"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.
It's confused me that 'loro sono farfalle' has been judged as wrong, I thought 'sono' and 'loro sono' were equally acceptable
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.
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.
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Last question was "they are chickens" and my answer "sono i polli" was correct.
So why is "sono le farfalle" not correct for "they are butterflies"? Need some consistency on Duolingo!
ah, that's why bowtie pasta's called farfalle :D they're like little butterflies. that's so cute for some reason.
In serbian bowtie is called "leptir mašna" which translates to "butterfly tie" for the same reason :)
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.
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. mukkapazza explains this in the top comment thread on this page.
As explained on this page already, "loro" is only for people. If anything, it would need to be "esse sono farfalle".
esso - masc. sing.
esssi - masc. pl.
essa - fem. sing.
esse - fem. pl.
But part of what this lesson is teaching is that it is more common to omit the subject pronoun.
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.
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.
Native speakers disagree with you. Please read the other comments for more details.
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Farfalle is also the shape of pasta in Italy that looks like a butterfly / hair ribbon. Italian is so funny at times :)
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.
Why does it accept "sono farfalle" but not "essi sono farfalle"? I get that loro is people and essi for non-humans, but I would have thought with and without essi are equally correct?
Anybody able to offer clarity, is there some reason? I'm the first to admit I don't 100% get the grammar in Italian, trying hard to unlearn English grammar (this is my first real foray into a second language).
"Farfalle" is feminine, so it would need to be "esse sono farfalle".
esso - masc. sing.
esssi - masc. pl.
essa - fem. sing.
esse - fem. pl.
But part of what this lesson is teaching is that it is more common to omit the subject pronoun.
This has been discussed elsewhere on this page. "Loro" is only for people. Also, this sentence is teaching you that it's normal to leave out the subject pronoun entirely.
Hey branabol, you tell me. We can't possibly know what's going on over on your end if you don't tell us explicitly.
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I used Lori but this is said to be wrong but I could have used esse. As I have not seen esse before this discussion it wasn’t an option. I don’t know what esse means.
No, Loro is for people only.
It would be correct only in a situation like this:
Picture a situation when you are pointing at a group of kids dressed up as butterflies for a costume party and what would you say? I guess "Loro sono farfalle" would be correct.
Why would it be incorrect to add the subject pronoun Loro sono... here? Are these creatures unworthy of being Loro? What about a metaphoric usage, such as They are (social) butterflies? Surely the addition of the subject pronoun would not be incorrect in this case.
What are the pronouns for things and animals - whether they are singular or plural?
I wrote "Loro sono farfalle" and it said I was wrong, but, like, why would it be wrong??? "Loro" is "They", why isn't it being accepted??
Loro is only used for humans. For anything non-human it's "essi" or just drop it completely and just use sono.
"Loro non sono farfalle" should be considered right....despite any arguments regarding "butterflies are not people", the sentence is gramatically correct...also, the level at this point is supposed to be basic
Loro means They for people only.
Please read more comments, it has been well explained on this forum
porque no te vas a la reputa madre que te pario duolingo con tu correccion, mi respuesta es correcta hdp
Loro is for people only
Please read the comments, it’s been very well explained here
Loro sono farfalle is surely as correct as, "Sono farfalle". If someone disagreed, thought that the creatures were moths, it would be logical to emphasise "loro".
”Loro” means ”they” for people only, not for things or animals. This is why is wrong to use it in this sentence.
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How can "loro sono farfalle" be wrong? Must "loro" be for people? If so, what is "they" for other things?
I think that in the form "sono" usung the pronoun is particularly clarifying becuse
Sorry, because it is the same for "io" and for "loro": What if the actual meaning was, for instance "Io sono le farfalle, in questo costume di carnevale"?
-Hasn't accepted "Essi sono farfalle"... I am about to rip my clothes off!
I guess that as farfalle is feminine it should be esse (not “essi”) used in this sentence
