Here is a very basic introduction to demonstrative adjectives. In future posts, I will go into more detail about the more complex ways in which they can be used. For now, here are the basics.

The demonstrative adjectives are used in order to express the words this, that, these, and those. Here is a short lesson showing how they work.

There are two ways to say "this" in Italian: questo (masculine) and questa (feminine)

To determine which one we pick we must look at the noun that follows. If the noun is masculine then we use "questo". If the noun is feminine then we use "questa"

example: This house = questa casa. The noun casa is a feminine noun so we picked questa.

example: this dog = questo cane. Cane is a masculine noun so I picked questo.

Now it works the same way for "these." To say "these" there are two options: questi(masculine) and queste (feminine)

These houses = queste case (because case is feminine)
these dogs = questi cani (because cani is masculine)

To express "that" we can say either quello (masculine) or quella (feminine)

that house = quella casa (because casa is feminine)
that dog = quello cane (because cane is masculine)

To express "those" we can say either quelli (masculine) or quelle (feminine)

quelle case = those houses (because case is feminine)
quelli cani = those dogs (because cani is masculine)
__________________________________________________ __________

Now you can try some examples: (remember to find out the gender of the noun first)

this computer =
that computer =
these computers =
those computers =

this chair =
that chair =
these chairs =
those chairs =

__________________
Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.

Grazie professore Giacomo.

Demonstrative Adjectives in English correspond to saying "this," "these," "that," and "those." First let's go over how to say "this" and "these" in Italian.

In Italian, you say "this" by saying "questo" or "questa," based on whether the word you're talking about is masculine or feminine, respectively. You say "these" by saying "questi" or "queste," based on whether the word you're talking about is masculine or feminine, respectively. So, for example, if you wanted to say "this book," you would say "questo libro," using "questo" because libro is masculine. Take a look at the following table: Demonstrative
Adjective Meaning Gender
questo this M
questa this F
questi these M
queste these F


Now let's go over how to say "that." The word you use depends on what the word your describing takes for the definite article. For words that take "l'," use "quell'," for words that take "il," use "quel," for words that take "lo," use "quello," and for words that take "la" use "quella." To say "those," use "quei" for words that take "i," "quegli" for words that take "gli," and "quelle" for words that take "le." Take a look at the following table to understand it better: Definite
Article Demonstrative
Adjective Meaning
l' quell' that
il quel that
lo quello that
la quella that
i quei those
gli quegli those
le quelle those

Here are some examples:

Questa sedia è grande.
This chair is big.
Quei libri sono i miei.
Those books are mine.

Thanks Villa! I was having trouble explaining how to use words like "quegli" or quell' etc. I just couldn't figure out how to explain it. I figured that if people didn't have knowledge of all the definite articles, then it would be hard for them to understand and even harder for me to explain.

It's really good that we both comment on each other's posts. We seem to have different styles of presenting the material and that is good because not everyone learns the same way.

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Dimmi con chi vai e ti dirò chi sei.