Comprehensive Guide to Adjectives

LESSON PLAN

Definition
Categorization
Placement
Agreement

• Qualitative
• Quantitative
• Possessive
• Demonstrative
• Indefinite

Continuing Education

DEFINITION

An adjective is a word that describes, identifies, or further defines a noun or pronoun.

CATEGORIZATION

Adjectives can be categorized according to what question they answer: 

WHAT KIND?	Qualitative adjectives describe a quality of a noun or pronoun and answer the question what kind?
HOW MUCH?	Quantitative adjectives describe a quantity of a noun or pronoun and answer the question how many? or how much?
WHOSE?	Possessive adjectives indicate ownership or relation between two nouns or pronouns and answer the question whose?
WHICH ONE(S)?	Demonstrative adjectives describe an object or pronoun in terms of distance from the speaker and answers the question which one(s)?
	Indefinite adjectives describe a noun or pronoun in a non-specific sense and may answer the question which one(s)?

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EXAMPLES::

Io ho comprato uno zaino blu.
I bought a blue backpack.
Answers: What kind?

Io ho comprato due zaini.
I bought two backpacks.
Answers: How many?

Io ho comprato il mio zaino ieri. 
I bought my backpack yesterday.
Answers: Whose?

Io ho comprato questo zaino ieri.
I bought this backpack yesterday.
Answers: Which one?

Io ho comprato qualunque zaino che era meno costoso.
I bought whatever backpack was cheapest.
Answers: Which one?

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PLACEMENT

Adjectives usually come directly before or directly after the noun or pronoun it describes, but the placement largely depends on the function of the adjective. 

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TABLE::

BEFORE	Quantitative, possessive,  demonstrative, and indefinite adjectives
AFTER	Qualitative adjectives

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EXAMPLES::

Io ho comprato due zaini.
I bought two backpacks.
Placement: Before

Io ho comprato uno zaino blu.
I bought a blue backpack.
Placement: After

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AGREEMENT

Adjective agreement varies both between and within adjective categories.

QUALITATIVE adjectives can be broken into three major categories based on agreement pattern. Some agree in number and gender,  some agree in number but not gender, and some do not agree in either. 

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TABLE::

Agreement in number and gender
	Singular	Plural
Masculine	-o	-i
Feminine	-a	-e
Agreement in number but not gender
	Singular	Plural
Masculine/Feminine	-e	-i
Agreement in neither number nor gender
	Singular	Plural
Masculine/Feminine	*Variable*	*Variable*

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EXAMPLES::

Lui è un ragazzo alto, ma lei è una ragazza bassa.
He is a tall boy but she is a short girl.
Agreement:  Number and gender

Lui è un ragazzo intelligente, ma anche lei è una ragazza intelligente.
He is a smart boy but she is also a smart girl.
Agreement: Only number

Lui ha una penna blu ma lei ha molte penne blu.
He has a blue pen but she has many blue pens.
Agreement: Neither

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QUANTITATIVE adjectives that specify exact amounts (seven, dozen, thousands) usually do not agree in number or gender, whereas those that refer to abstract amounts (many, a lot, few) usually agree in both number and gender. 

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EXAMPLES::

Ci incontriamo con molti amici al ristorante.
We meet with many friends at the restaurant.
Agreement:  Number and gender

Lui ha comprato due zaini.
He bought two backpacks.
Agreement: Neither

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POSSESSIVE adjectives usually agree in number and gender, and well as with the person of the possessor (except for loro, which is invariable in number and gender). Possessive adjectives are almost always accompanied by a definite article except when describing a singular family member.

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TABLE::

	Masculine		Feminine
	Singular	Plural	Singular	Plural
My	Mio	Miei	Mia	Mie
Your	Tuo	Tuoi	Tua	Tue
His/Her	Suo	Suoi	Sua	Sue
Our	Nostro	Nostri	Nostra	Nostre
Your	Vostro	Vostri	Vostra	Vostre
Their	Loro	Loro	Loro	Loro

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EXAMPLES::

Mia sorella ha dieci anni.
My sister is ten years old.
Agreement:  Number and gender

Mi piace la loro casa.
I like their house.
Agreement:  Neither

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DEMONSTRATIVE adjectives can be broken into two major categories based on agreement pattern. Questo (this/these) agrees in both number and gender, whereas quello (that/those) agrees similarly to definite articles in number and gender.

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TABLE::

QUESTO
	Singular	Plural
Masculine	Questo	Questi
Feminine	Questa	Queste

QUELLO
		Singular	Plural
Masculine	Nouns starting with a consonant	Quell	Quei
	Nouns starting with a vowel	Quell’	Quegli
	Nouns starting with sp, st, or z	Quello	Quegli
Feminine	Nouns starting with a consonant	Quella	Quelle
	Nouns starting with a vowel	Quell’	Quelle

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EXAMPLES::

Questa ragazza è mia sorella.
This girl is my little sister.

Quegli  zaini sono nuovi.
Those backpacks are new.

Voglio comprare queste scarpe.
I want to buy these shoes.

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INDEFINITE adjectives have pretty sporadic patterns of agreement. Some agree in number and gender and don’t agree at all.  Others are always single or always plural and may or may not change to agree.

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TABLE::

Agreement in number and gender
Tutto + def. art.	All	Agrees in number and gender according to adjectives with four forms
Nessun	No, any + noun	Agrees in number and gender similarly to indefinite pronouns
Agreement in only gender
Alcuni/e	Some	Always plural; Agrees in number according to adjectives with two forms
Agreement in number and gender
Qualche	Some	Always single; does not change to agree in gender
Ogni	Each, every	Always single; does not change to agree in gender
Qualunque	Any, any sort of, whatever	Always single; does not change to agree in gender

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EXAMPLES::

Qualunque persona può imparare a nuotare.
Any person can learn to swim.

Ho comprato alcune fragole.
I bought some strawberries.

Corro ogni giorno.
I run every day.

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