Unit 87 Guidebook: describe what's around you
KEY PHRASES
Describe what's around you
Questo maglione è azzurro.
This sweater is blue.
This sweater is blue.
Io vivo in quel palazzo.
I live in that building.
I live in that building.
Lavora in questa città?
Does she work in this city?
Does she work in this city?
Quella ragazza è mia figlia.
That girl is my daughter.
That girl is my daughter.
Quegli occhiali ti stanno bene.
Those glasses fit you well.
Those glasses fit you well.
C'è troppa gente nel parco.
There are too many people in the park.
There are too many people in the park.
TIP
This and these
In Italian, the words for this and these change depending on the gender and number of the word they describe.
| masculine | feminine |
|---|---|
| questo this |
questa this |
| questi these |
queste these |
Siete libere questo pomeriggio?
Are you free this afternoon?
Are you free this afternoon?
Questa torta è molto dolce.
This pie is very sweet.
This pie is very sweet.
And one more thing! Questo and questa lose a letter before words that begin with a vowel and combine with them.
La primavera è in ritardo quest'anno.
Spring is late this year.
Spring is late this year.
Quest'automobile è come nuova.
This automobile is like new.
This automobile is like new.
TIP
That and those
Italian has seven different words for that and those depending on the noun they describe. But don't panic! Here's something to help you remember all of them. Let's start with that.
| that | comes before... |
|---|---|
| quell' | any noun beginning with a vowel |
| quello | masculine nouns beginning with z, x, y, gn, ps, or s + consonant |
| quel | masculine nouns beginning with any other consonant |
| quella | feminine nouns beginning with any consonant |
Now let's see what the deal is with those.
| those | comes before... |
|---|---|
| quegli | masculine nouns beginning with a vowel, z, x, y, gn, ps, or s + consonant |
| quei | masculine nouns beginning with any other consonant |
| quelle | any feminine noun |
Did you notice? These patterns are similar to those we've seen for the words that replace the in Italian.
Di chi sono quei biscotti?
Whose cookies are those?
Whose cookies are those?
TIP
Qualche
Qualche means some or a few. Keep in mind that after qualche the word you use will always need to be singular, even if we would use a plural word in English.
Conosci qualche negozio buono?
Do you know some good stores?
Do you know some good stores?
Ho qualche amico in città.
I have a few friends in town.
I have a few friends in town.