copulativi

Copulativi is an umbrella term in Italian grammar that can denote two related but distinct categories: copulative verbs (verbi copulativi) and copulative conjunctions (congiunzioni copulative). Both share the idea of linking elements rather than expressing action.

Verbi copulativi are linking verbs that connect the subject to a predicative complement, usually an adjective or a noun, rather than signaling concrete action. The most central example is essere (to be). Depending on the school tradition, other verbs may be treated as copulative in certain contexts, such as diventare (to become), rimanere (to remain), restare (to stay), sembrare (to seem), apparire (to appear), and parere (to seem). In their copulative use they take a predicative complement: “La casa è grande.” “Loro sono diventati insegnanti.” Some of these verbs also carry lexical meaning in other constructions, but in the copulative function their role is primarily linking.

Congiunzioni copulative are coordinating conjunctions that express additive relations between words, phrases, or clauses. The basic example is e (and). Ed is used before words that begin with a vowel sound to avoid hiatus: “pane ed uova.” Other copulative connectors include anche (also) and nonché (as well as). They can join nouns, adjectives, or entire clauses: “Pane e latte.” “Ridono, anche se stanchi.” In Italian, the expression non solo… ma anche is also used to emphasize addition.