Post on 04-Jan-2016
Using Adjectives In Italian
What is agreement?
Adjectives must agree with the noun they modify in number (singular or plural ) and gender (masculine or feminine)
Adjectives change their ending to agree with the noun
NORMALLY, dictionaries give the masculine, singular form of the adjective and it is UP TO YOU to change it, if necessary.
Adjectives ending in “-o”
These adjectives have four forms:
SINGULAR PLURAL
Masculine, ends in “–o” Masculine, ends in “–i” Mario è italiano. Mario e Luigi sono italiani.
Masculine, ends in “–a” Feminine, ends in “-e” Francesca è italiana. Le ragazze sono
italiane.
Adjectives ending in “-ca, -ga, go”
*These adjectives usually take an “h” in the plural:
SINGULAR PLURAL
simpatica simpatiche
lungo lunghi
lunga lunghe
dinamica dinamiche
But……… Ma……….
Stanco stanchi
Simpatico simpatici ( no “h”)
Adjectives ending in “-ista”
These adjectives have three forms:
Singular Plural
Masculine and feminine, Masculine, ends in “isti”
ends in “-ista” Mario e Luigi sono ottimista.
Mario è ottimista. Feminine, ends in “iste”
Francesca e ottimista. Le ragazze sono ottimiste.
Adjectives ending in “-e”
These adjectives have only tow forms, one for singular and one for plural. Genders DO NOT matter with these adjectives.
Singular Plural
Masculine and feminine, Masculine and feminine, ends
Ends in “–e” in “-i”
Mario è felice Mario e Luigi sono felici.
Francesca è felice. Le ragazze sono felici.
Tocca a te!
Mrs. Renzi is elegant. Signora Renzi è elegante
Carolinas brothers are funny. I fratelli di Carolina sono buffi.
Paolo and I are generous. Paolo ed Io siamo generosi.
The book is boring. Il libro è noiso.
The books are boring. I libri sono noisi.
What is adjective placement?
In English, adjectives In italian adjectives, are
are placed BEFORE uaually placed AFTER
the noun; the noun;
Ex: An easy test Ex: un esame facile
Some common Italian adjectives are placed before the noun, as in
English.
Una bella casa A beautiful
**You have to memorize the adjectives that come before the noun!**
Some adjectives which precede nouns include…..
altro (rather) questo (this)
molto (very) stesso (the same)
poco (little) vero (real)
quanto (how many) all numbers
More adjectives which normally precede
nouns…. Adjectives of beauty:
bello, brutto
Adjectives of age: giovane, nuovo, vecchio
Adjectives of goodness: bravo, buono, caro, cattivo, vero
Adjectives of size: grande, piccolo
The Adjective “caro”
“Caro” has different meanings, depending on its placement
Before the noun, it means “dear” Ex: Caro Francesco Dear Francesco una cara nonna a caring grandmother
After the noun, it means expensive: Ex: una macchina cara an expensive car
Adjectives of Beauty, Age, Goodness and Size can be placed AFTER
the noun for EMPHASIS
Compro una nuova macchine I am buying a new car. (needing a new car, time to change cars)
Compro una macchina nuova. I am buying a new car. (putting emphasis on the word nuova, meaning buying something brand new.
FINE!!!!