"Her pasta is on the plate."

Translation: La sua pasta è nel piatto.

[DaltonWene]

What is the definite distinction between nello and nel? Is it gender or singular/plural? Or something completely different?

[lorenagay]

"Nello" is used when it's a contraction of "in the" and the noun starts with either "z" or "s-impure" (st, sp, sch etc), where the noun is masculine . "In the zoo" would be "nello zoo", for example.

[SavvasAnas]

"sul piatto" is also accepted as alternative but that's the exact translation of "on the" right?

[Ivy_Swan]

I think so, but until you get into the later lessons, it makes you say nel or nello for everything

[Ghalwash]

right :)

[emigaso5]

The correct translation requires the use of "essere" verb. In fact, in a correct italian, we have to use "essere" verb (for example here, we say "è nel piatto") instead of the "stare" verb (so, "sta nel piatto" it's incorrect). "Stare" is used only in dialectal form of speaking.

[Marzamania]

What's the difference between sul and nel?

[Stubsey]

They both essentially mean the same ('in the' or 'on the'), however su is generally used when movement is involved. You'd be understood using 'sul' in this context, however 'nel' is grammatically more accurate

[VivianDeMelo]

Why is the article needed in this? "Sua pasta è nel piatto" is right too?

[Stubsey]

At the beginning of a sentence you always need the article with the possessive. Within the sentence I believe it's optional

[schaum97]

Why "la sua" not "la sue"?

[Stubsey]

La sua is singular (one 'pasta'). If it were plural you'd use 'le sue' (e.g. le sue paste), but I don't think you'd ever mix the singular article with the plural possessive

[BKackl01]

Does La sua always go together or does both change? His or her for example. What if you used suo or sue?

[LorenzoLM]

il suo or le sue
Which you use depends on the gender of what is possessed, not who possesses them. They can all mean his or hers

[Ivona839598]

how do you tell that something is "his" or "her" ?

[Stubsey]

For this sentence you don't know - it could be either. The 'la sua' is feminine because 'pasta' is feminine, not because the pasta belongs to a woman. Normally this isn't a concern - if you're speaking to someone the context would normally be obvious. If you need to you can add the word for he or she for emphasis;

Lui la sua pasta è nel piatto (his pasta....)

Lei la sua pasta è nel piatto (her pasta....)

[DrThos]

Would "la sua pasta sta nel piatto" be incorrect? Is "sta" only for animate objects?

[lorenagay]

No it would be correct, and means essentially the same thing. My husband says it's not uncommon to use the verb "stare" interchangeably with "essere".