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Descriptive adjectives

Gli aggettivi qualificativi

Grammar explained

Describing a noun

An adjective describes a noun and agrees with it in gender and number. Unlike English adjectives, Italian adjectives usually change their endings. Agreement follows the Italian noun.
Grammar explained

Two main patterns

Adjectives ending in -o have four forms: nuovo, nuova, nuovi, nuove.
Adjectives ending in -e have two main forms: grande (singular, either gender), grandi (plural, either gender).
Example

un libro nuovo

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a new book

Example

una casa nuova

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a new house

Example

due case nuove

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two new houses

Example

due libri interessanti

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two interesting books

Grammar explained

Before or after the noun?

As a starting point, place descriptive adjectives after the noun. Nationality adjectives usually follow it: un amico italiano. Some descriptive adjectives can precede the noun, sometimes changing the meaning or emphasis.
Example

un amico italiano

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an Italian friend

Grammar explained

Position can change meaning

Un vecchio amico usually means a long-standing friend. Un amico vecchio means a friend who is old in age. Do not move every adjective freely; learn these distinctions in phrases.
Example

un vecchio amico

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a long-standing friend

Practice
Choose: una casa ___.

Practice
Choose: due libri ___.

Practice
What does un vecchio amico usually mean?

Practice
Choose: le case ___.

Lesson highlights

Remember

Make the adjective agree with the Italian noun: nuovo/nuova/nuovi/nuove; grande/grandi. Its position can sometimes change the meaning.