In Italian, demonstrative pronouns are used to point out and distinguish specific people, places, and things. There are three main types of demonstrative pronouns in Italian: questo (this), codesto (that), and quello (that). Each of these pronouns has a singular and plural form, as well as a feminine and masculine form, depending on the noun they are referring to. In this article, we will provide an introduction to Italian demonstrative pronouns, including an explanation of their usage and example sentences for each pronoun.
Questo and Questa (This)
The demonstrative pronoun “questo” is used to refer to something that is close to the speaker. It can be used with masculine singular nouns, while “questa” is used with feminine singular nouns. Here are some examples:
Questo libro è molto interessante. (This book is very interesting.)
Questa casa è molto grande. (This house is very big.)
Questi and Queste (These)
The plural form of “questo” is “questi,” which is used with masculine plural nouns, while “queste” is used with feminine plural nouns. These pronouns refer to objects that are close to the speaker. Here are some examples:
Questi fiori sono molto belli. (These flowers are very beautiful.)
Queste scarpe sono molto comode. (These shoes are very comfortable.)
Codesto and Codesta (That)
The pronoun “codesto” is used to refer to something that is closer to the person being addressed than the speaker. It can be used with masculine singular nouns, while “codesta” is used with feminine singular nouns. Here are some examples:
Codesto palazzo è molto antico. (That building over there is very old.)
Codesta cattedrale è molto bella. (That cathedral over there is very beautiful.)
Codesti and Codeste (Those)
The plural form of “codesto” is “codesti,” which is used with masculine plural nouns, while “codeste” is used with feminine plural nouns. These pronouns refer to objects that are farther away from both the speaker and the person being addressed. Here are some examples:
Codesti quadri sono molto belli. (Those paintings over there are very beautiful.)
Codeste montagne sono molto alte. (Those mountains over there are very high.)
Quello and Quella (That)
The demonstrative pronoun “quello” is used to refer to something that is far away from both the speaker and the person being addressed. It can be used with masculine singular nouns, while “quella” is used with feminine singular nouns. Here are some examples:
Quello zaino è molto pesante. (That backpack over there is very heavy.)
Quella macchina è molto veloce. (That car over there is very fast.)
Quelli and Quelle (Those)
The plural form of “quello” is “quelli,” which is used with masculine plural nouns, while “quelle” is used with feminine plural nouns. These pronouns refer to objects that are far away from both the speaker and the person being addressed. Here are some examples:
Quelli ragazzi sono molto rumorosi. (Those boys over there are very noisy.)
Quelle ragazze sono molto belle. (Those girls over there are very beautiful.)
Usage of Italian Demonstrative Pronouns
Italian demonstrative pronouns are used in the same way as English demonstrative pronouns. They are placed before the noun they refer to and agree in gender and number with the noun. Here are some examples:
- Questo è il mio amico. (This is my friend.)
- Queste sono le mie sorelle. (These are my sisters.)
- Codesto è il tuo portafoglio. (That is your wallet.)
- Codesta è la tua borsa. (That is your bag.)
- Quello è il suo libro. (That is his/her book.)
- Quella è la sua macchina. (That is his/her car.)
- Questi sono i nostri amici. (These are our friends.)
- Queste sono le nostre case. (These are our houses.)
- Codesti sono i vostri bagagli. (Those are your bags.)
- Codeste sono le vostre scarpe. (Those are your shoes.)
- Quelli sono i loro gatti. (Those are their cats.)
- Quelle sono le loro biciclette. (Those are their bicycles.)
It is important to note that the demonstrative pronoun can also be used alone without a noun, in cases where the context is clear. For example:
Voglio questo. (I want this.)
Non mi piace quello. (I don’t like that.)
Quelli sono belli. (Those are beautiful.)
Conclusion
Demonstrative pronouns are an important part of Italian grammar, used to point out and distinguish specific people, places, and things. There are three main types of demonstrative pronouns in Italian: questo (this), codesto (that), and quello (that). Each of these pronouns has a singular and plural form, as well as a feminine and masculine form, depending on the noun they are referring to. By understanding the usage and examples of each of these pronouns, learners can improve their Italian language skills and effectively communicate with others.
Originally posted 2023-07-17 14:11:33.