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This lesson covers the use of 'ecco' to show or point out something visible, such as in "Ecco la tua borsa", and 'è' for identifying or expressing possession, like "È Anna" and "È il mio".
  1. Ecco is used only with elements that are present or visible.
  2. 'È' is used to identify an object or a person.
Struttura (Structure)Tipo (Type)Esempio (Example)
Ecco!Mostrare qualcosaEcco! Lo sapevo. (Here! I knew it.)
Ecco + gruppo nominaleIndicare qualcosa/qualcuno (To point out something/someone)Ecco la tua borsa. (Here is your bag.)
Ecco + pronomeIndicare la presenza di qualcuno/qualcosa (Indicate the presence of someone/something)Dov'è Luca? Eccolo! (Where is Luca? Here he is!)
È + nomeIdentificare una persona (Identify a person)Chi è lei? È Anna. (Who is she? She is Anna.)
È + pronome possessivoEsprimere un possesso (Expressing possession)Di chi è questo libro? È il mio. (Whose book is this? It is mine.)

Exercise 1: Espressioni con 'ecco' ed 'è'

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Eccolo, Ecco, È la mia, ecco, è lui, Eccola

1. Indicare qualcosa:
... il profitto che abbiamo fatto ieri.
(Here is the profit we made yesterday.)
2. Esprimere possesso:
Scusa, di chi è questa penna? ...!
(Excuse me, whose pen is this? It's mine!)
3. Indicare la presenza:
... il libro che cercavi.
(Here is the book you were looking for.)
4. Identificare una persona:
Lì c'è l'imprenditore? Sì, ....
(Is that the entrepreneur? Yes, it's him.)
5. Mostrare qualcosa:
Consegnami il documento, per favore. ....
(Hand me the document, please. Here you go.)
6. Indicare la presenza:
..., è arrivata la tua borsa.
(Here it is, your bag has arrived.)
7. Indicare qualcosa:
... i costi nella tabella mensile.
(Here are the costs in the monthly table.)
8. Indicare qualcosa:
Guarda, ... il marketing che funziona!
(Look, here is the marketing that works!)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence based on the use of 'ecco' and 'è'.

1.
Here something visible is indicated, so 'Ecco' must be used, not 'È'.
'Ecco essere' is not correct; only 'Ecco' or 'È' are used separately.
2.
The word 'Ècco' does not exist; it is an incorrect form of 'Ecco' or 'È'.
'Ecco' is used to show something visible, but to identify a person 'È' is used.
3.
Here the intention is to show a present object, so 'Ecco' (or 'Eccola') is used, not 'È'.
Error in the verb 'disperavo'; in this context it is not correct, and also, 'Ecco' is normally followed by a noun or pronoun.
4.
Incorrect question: 'Di chi è' is used to ask about possession, not 'Ecco'.
'Ecco' is not used in possession questions; incorrect form.

Expressions with ecco and è

This lesson focuses on the correct use of two very common Italian words: ecco and è. Both are used to point out or identify people, objects, or information but in different contexts and with different structures.

What you will learn

  • How to use ecco to draw attention to something present or visible.
  • How to structure sentences with ecco followed by a noun or pronoun.
  • How to identify people or possessions using è.
  • Common expressions and examples to recognize context.

Using ecco

Ecco is used when you want to show or indicate the presence of something or someone that is currently visible or present. Different structures include:

  • Ecco!: Simply showing or pointing something out, e.g., Ecco! Lo sapevo.
  • Ecco + noun phrase: Example: Ecco la tua borsa.
  • Ecco + pronoun: Used to indicate the presence of someone or something already mentioned or expected, e.g., Dov'è Luca? Eccolo!

Using è

È is the third person singular of the verb essere (to be). It identifies or describes a person or an object and expresses possession. Some examples:

  • È + name: To identify who someone is, e.g., Chi è lei? È Anna.
  • È + possessive pronoun: To express ownership, e.g., Di chi è questo libro? È il mio.

Important points to remember

  • Ecco is used only when something or someone is physically present or clearly visible.
  • È works for identification and possession but does not indicate presence in the same way as ecco.
  • Pay attention to sentence structure to use these correctly.

Comparison with English

In English, there isn’t a direct single word equivalent to ecco. It can be translated as "here is," "here are," or simply "this is" when pointing out something visible or present. The verb è corresponds to "is" in English, used for identification and possession.

Useful phrases:
Ecco la tua chiave. – Here is your key.
È Marco. – He is Marco.
Di chi è questo? È mio. – Whose is this? It's mine.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 29/08/2025 21:40