"È nero il cane visto nel cortile?"

Translation: Is the dog that was seen in the yard black?

[dnovinc]

This is a bit strange word order.

[erikalinor]

yes. very strange. please explain...

[Blomeley]

I have seen this form often enough, where in questions the subject is put at the end of the sentence (il cane visto nel cortile being the subject here). Another example might be "È pronta la cena?".