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!!!!