Punto di partenza Adjectives are words that describe

Punto di partenza Adjectives are words that describe people, places, and things. In Italian, adjectives are often used with the verb essere to point out the qualities of the subject. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -1

• Many adjectives in Italian are cognates. Their spellings and meanings are similar in both Italian and English. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -2

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• Although both buono and bravo mean good, use bravo to describe someone who is skilled or talented. La mensa è buona. The cafeteria is good. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. L’insegnante d’italiano è brava. The Italian teacher is good. 1 B. 2 -4

• Unlike in English, most adjectives in Italian follow the noun. È un libro noioso. It is a boring book. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Sono ragazzi studiosi. They are studious boys. 1 B. 2 -5

Agreement Italian adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify. In Strutture 1 A. 1 you learned how to make nouns plural; adjectives change their final vowel in a similar way. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -6

• Adjectives whose masculine singular form ends in -o have four possible endings: -o (masc. ) and -a (fem. ) in the singular, and –i (masc. ) and -e (fem. ) in the plural. To refer to groups of mixed gender, use the masculine plural ending -i. Giorgio è contento. Giorgio is happy. Giorgio e Laura sono contenti. Giorgio and Laura are happy. Silvia è contenta. Silvia is happy. Silvia e Laura sono contente. Silvia and Laura are happy. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -7

• Adjectives that end in -e in the singular change to -i in the plural. Lucia è intelligente. Lucia is intelligent. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Lucia e Roberto sono intelligenti. Lucia and Roberto are intelligent. 1 B. 2 -8

• Most adjectives ending in -co, -ca, -go, and -ga require an h in the plural to maintain the hard sound of the c or g. Exceptions include the masculine plural adjectives simpatici and antipatici. È simpatica. She is nice. Le ragazze sono simpatiche. The girls are nice. È un amico tedesco. He is a German friend. Sono amici tedeschi. They are German friends. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -9

• Adjectives of nationality also follow the rules of agreement described above. Unlike in English, they are not capitalized. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -10

• Use Di dove + essere to ask about someone’s nationality or origin. To name a city in the reply, use di. Di dove sei? Where are you from? © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. Sono italiana. Sono di Roma. I am Italian. I am from Rome. 1 B. 2 -11

Write the correct forms of the adjectives. generosi/e 1. Loro sono _____. (generoso) 4. lo non sono ____. (pigro) 2. Lisa è ____. (simpatico) 5. Gli esami sono____. (facile) 3. Hiroshi è _____. (giapponese) 6. Silvia è _____. (tedesco) © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1 B. 2 -12