è lui che
Lemma: è lui che
Translation: it's him who; he's the one who (phrase)
Etymology: This Italian phrase combines three elements: 'è' (is, third person singular of the verb 'essere'), 'lui' (he/him, masculine singular personal pronoun), and 'che' (that/who, relative pronoun). The construction creates an emphatic structure that highlights the subject, similar to English cleft sentences.
Mnemonics
- Think of pointing at someone in a lineup: 'È LUI che ha fatto questo!' (It's HIM who did this!)
- Remember that 'è lui che' puts a spotlight on 'him' as the doer of the action
Related Words, Phrases & Idioms
Synonyms
Antonyms
Cultural Context
This emphatic construction is commonly used in Italian conversation to place emphasis on the subject performing an action. It's a natural way to highlight responsibility or agency in everyday speech.
Easily Confused With
Explanation: While 'è lui che' is a correct emphatic construction, 'lui è che' is grammatically incorrect in standard Italian. The proper construction places the verb 'è' at the beginning of the phrase.
Confused word:
[Incorrect construction]
[Incorrect construction]
Notes: The correct order is always verb + pronoun + relative pronoun (è + lui + che).
Mnemonic: Remember that in this emphatic construction, the verb 'è' always comes first: 'È lui che...'
Explanation: 'Lui che' is just a pronoun with a relative clause marker, missing the verb 'è' that makes it a complete emphatic construction.
Notes: 'Lui che' can be used in other grammatical constructions but lacks the emphatic quality of 'è lui che'.
Mnemonic: Think of 'è' as the spotlight operator - without it, you're just describing someone, not emphasizing them.