| Grammar Notes: Sentence Breakdown: * Una – "A" (feminine, singular). The indefinite article. * giovane – "young". An adjective describing 'donna'. It remains the same for masculine and feminine. * donna – "woman" (noun, feminine). Infinitive form (as a concept): donna. * con – "with" (preposition). * i – "the" (masculine, plural). The definite article used here because 'capelli' is masculine plural. * capelli – "hair" (noun, masculine, plural). Note: hair is usually plural in Italian. Singular form: capello (a single strand of hair). * lunghi – "long" (masculine, plural). An adjective agreeing with 'capelli'. Infinitive (masculine singular) form: lungo. * Sembra – "(He/She/It) seems" or "looks". From the verb sembrare (to seem). * sorpresa – "surprised" (feminine, singular). An adjective agreeing with 'donna'. It can also be a noun ("a surprise"). Infinitive (masculine singular) form: sorpreso. Grammar Tip: Adjectives in Italian must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they describe. 'Giovane' ends in 'e', so it stays the same for masculine and feminine singular, but becomes giovani for the plural of both. 'Lunghi' is masculine plural to agree with 'i capelli'. 'Sorpresa' is feminine singular to agree with 'donna'. Related Words: The verb sembrare is often followed by an adjective (sembra stanco – he seems tired) or by di + infinitive (sembra di sognare – it feels like dreaming). |
