Demonstratives: questo, quello

📌 Nota grammaticale

The demonstrative adjective 'questo' means 'this' in English. It points out something close to the speaker. When used before a masculine singular noun starting with a consonant, it takes the form 'questo' (e.g., questo libro).

📌 Nota grammaticale

When 'questo' or 'questa' precedes a masculine or feminine singular noun starting with a vowel (a, e, i, o, u), it drops its final vowel and takes an apostrophe, becoming 'quest'' (e.g., quest'amico, quest'ora).

📌 Nota grammaticale

For feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant, the demonstrative adjective takes the form 'questa' (e.g., questa casa). It agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

📌 Nota grammaticale

To form the plural for masculine nouns starting with a consonant, 'questo' changes to 'questi' (e.g., questi libri). It matches masculine plural nouns.

📌 Nota grammaticale

Feminine plural nouns take 'queste' before consonants (e.g., queste penne). For plural nouns starting with a vowel, Italian generally uses 'questi' for masculine plural vowels and 'queste' for feminine plural vowels (no apostrophe for plurals, unlike singular).

📌 Nota grammaticale

The demonstrative adjective 'quello' means 'that'. Its forms mirror definite articles (like 'il'). Before a masculine singular noun starting with a consonant, it shortens to 'quel' (e.g., quel libro).

📌 Nota grammaticale

Before masculine nouns starting with 's' + consonant (sp, st, etc.), 'z', 'gn', 'ps', or 'y', 'quello' takes the form 'quello' (matching 'lo'). Before a vowel, it takes 'quell'' with an apostrophe.

📌 Nota grammaticale

For feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant, 'quello' becomes 'quella' (matching the article 'la'). Example: 'quella casa'.

📌 Nota grammaticale

Before feminine singular nouns starting with a vowel, 'quella' drops its final 'a' and takes an apostrophe, becoming 'quell'' (matching 'l'').

📌 Nota grammaticale

Masculine plural forms of 'quello' depend on the article pattern (matching 'i' and 'gli'). Use 'quei' before normal consonants (quei libri), and 'quegli' before vowels, 's'+consonant, and 'z' (quegli studenti, quegli amici).

📌 Nota grammaticale

The feminine plural form of 'quello' is always 'quelle' before consonants, and 'quelle' (without apostrophe) before vowels (matching 'le').

📌 Nota grammaticale

When not attached to a noun, 'questo' and 'quello' can stand alone as pronouns meaning 'this one' or 'that one'. They follow regular adjective endings (-o, -a, -i, -e) without needing article-like variations.