Chapter 8: Adjectives and Adverbs

Question 1

His car

Used when you want to unambiguous that the car is “his” not “hers”

Answer 1

la macchina di lui

Question 2

My head hurts

Answer 2

Mi fa male la testa

Note, no possessive needed

Question 3

At my house there are many people

Answer 3

A casa mia ci sono molte persone

The possessive comes after the noun in expressions of fact

Question 4

My God, how many cars there are!

Answer 4

Dio mio, quante macchine ci sono!

Note: in exclamations, the possessive comes after the noun.

Question 5

Those ladies are very elegant

Answer 5

Quelle signore sono molto eleganti.

Question 6

I hope to eat in that restaurant that you suggested.

Answer 6

Spero di mangiare in quel ristorante che tu hai suggerito.

Question 7

Read this book and do that exercise. (2nd plural)

Answer 7

Leggete questo libro e fate quell’esercizio.

Question 8

Those squirrels are hungry

Answer 8

Quegli scoiattoli sono fame.

_(_sko-ya-to-li)

Question 9

Should I buy this jacket here or that jacket there?

Answer 9

Devo comprare questa giacca qui o quella giacca lì?

When you want to avoid ambiguity between “this” and “that” or “these” and “those” qui or qua (here) and lì or là (there) follow the noun.

Question 10

Maria is a dear friend.

Answer 10

Maria è una cara amica

(example of an adjective the precedes the noun. see page 130 for a list)

Question 11

She is a good teacher.

Answer 11

Lei è una brava insegnate.

(example of an adjective the precedes the noun. see page 130 for a list)

Question 12

It is a good dog

(emphasing the dog is good)

Answer 12

È un cane buono.

(“buono” is an example of an adjective that usually precedes the noun. But it follows the noun for emphasis or contrast.)

Question 13

They live in a very large house

Answer 13

Abitano in una casa molto grande

(“grande” is an adjective that usually precedes the noun - see list on page 130 - but when modifed by an adverb such as “molto” (very), “abbastanza” (fairly), “piuttosto” (rather) or “troppo” (too much) it must follow the noun)

Question 14

She has many beautiful rings

Answer 14

Lei ha molti begli anelli.

Question 15

Those flowers are very fragrant

Answer 15

Quei fiori sono molto profumati.

Question 16

She is a young girl

Answer 16

Lei è una giovane ragazza

Question 17

There are few children at the park

Answer 17

Ci sono pochi bambini al parco

Question 18

There are few shoes in the stores.

Answer 18

Ci sono poche scarpe nei negozi.

Question 19

He wants another job.

Answer 19

Lui vuole un altro lavoro.

Question 20

This is the last time we’ll see each other.

Answer 20

Questa è l’ultima volta che ci vediamo.

Question 21

Tennis is more interesting than football.

Answer 21

Il tennis è più interessante del football.

più…di used when 2 different objects/subjects compared

Question 22

There are more than thirty kids at the party.

Answer 22

Ci sono più di trenta bambini alla festa.

più…di used before numbers

Question 23

Grandfather is wiser than old

Answer 23

Il nonno è più saggio che vecchio.

più…che used when comparison made between to aspects of the same subject.

Question 24

It is more interesting to read than to watch TV.

Answer 24

È più interessante leggere che guardare la TV.

più…che used when comparing 2 infinitives.

Question 25

I play more tennis than soccer

Answer 25

Gioco più a tennis che a calcio

più…che used before nouns or prounouns precede by a prepositoin

Question 26

You put more water than wine in the glass

Answer 26

Hai messo piu acqua che vino nel bicchiere.

più…che used when comparing nouns that depend on the same verb.

Question 27

Italians like coffee more than tea.

Answer 27

Agli italiani piace più il caffè che il tè.

più…che used when comparing nouns that depend on the same verb.

Question 28

Italians spend less than the Americans.

Answer 28

Gli italani spendono meno degli americani.

Question 29

You play well; you’re better than you think.

Answer 29

Tu giochi bene: sei più bravo di quel che tu pensi.

Before a conjugated verb use più…di quel(lo) che

Question 30

Maria is as beautiful as Giovanna.

Answer 30

Maria è così bella come Giovanna

Can also use “tanto” “quanto”, though “tanto” must agree with gender & number of subject. “quanto” does not.

Question 31

You buy as much fruit as us. (2nd plural)

Answer 31

Voi comprate tanta frutta quanto noi.

Can also use “così” “come”

Question 32

You are the richest lady in the city.

Answer 32

Tu sei la donna più ricca della città.

Question 33

Italian verbs are very difficult.

(add an ending to adjective instead of using “molto”)

Answer 33

I verbi italiani sono difficilissimi.

Question 34

He comes home very tired

(use a prefix to tired instead of “molto”. There are 4)

Answer 34

Torna casa arcistanco.

(other “very” prefixes include stra, super, ultra)

Question 35

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

high, higher, highest

Answer 35

alto, superiore, supremo/sommo

Question 36

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

low, lower, lowest

Answer 36

basso, inferiore, infimo

Question 37

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

good, better, best

Answer 37

buono, migliore, ottimo

Question 38

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

bad, worse, worst

Answer 38

cattivo, peggiore, pessimo

Question 39

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

big, bigger, biggest

Answer 39

grande, maggiore, massimo

Question 40

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives:

small, smaller, smallest

Answer 40

piccolo, minore, minimo

Question 41

• adjective to adverb*
• certain –> certainly*

Answer 41

certo, certamente

(follows general rule - use feminine form of adjective to make adverb)

Question 42

• ​adjective to adverb*
  honest. ..honestly

Answer 42

onesto…onestamente

(follows general rule - use feminine form of adjective to make adverb)

Question 43

• adjectives to adverbs*
  other. ..otherwise

Answer 43

altro, altrimente

(an EXCEPTION: does NOT follow general rule on making adverbs)

Question 44

adjectives to adverbs

light, lightly

Answer 44

leggero, leggermente

(an EXCEPTION: does NOT follow general rule on making adverbs)

Question 45

adjectives to adverbs

violent, violently

Answer 45

violento…violentemente

(an EXCEPTION: does NOT follow general rule on making adverbs)

Question 46

• adjectives to adverbs*
  happy. ..happily

Answer 46

felice…felicemente

(Adjectives that end in “e” - but not “le” - just add “mente”)

Question 47

• adjectives to adverbs*
  easy. ..easily

Answer 47

facile, facilmente

(Adjectives that end in “le” drop the “e” and add “mente”)

Question 48

• Adjectives to Adverbs: Irregular forms*
  good. ..well

Answer 48

buono…bene

Question 49

• Adjectives to Adverbs: Irregular forms*
  bad. ..badly

Answer 49

cattivo…male

Question 50

• Adjectives to Adverbs: Irregular forms*
  better. ..better

Answer 50

migliore…meglio

Question 51

• Adjectives to Adverbs: Irregular forms*
  worse. ..worse

Answer 51

peggiore…peggio

Question 52

I have too many shoes

Answer 52

Ho troppe scarpe

(agreement because an adjective)

Question 53

The shoes hurt me too much

Answer 53

Le scarpe mi fanno troppo male.

(“troppo” an adverb here, so no agreement)

Question 54

Tomorrow we’ll go to the market

Answer 54

Domani andiamo al mercato.

Adverbs of time, certainty, or doubt usually PRECEDE the verb in simple tenses.

Question 55

I put it behind the door.

Answer 55

L’ho messo dietro la porta.

Adverbs of time and location FOLLOW the past particple verb in compound tenses.

Question 56

I have not yet eaten

Answer 56

Non ho ancora mangiato.

Certain adverbs like ancora (still, yet), affatto (at all), appena (as soon as), già (already) mai (never), and sempre (always) come BETWEEN the auxilliary and past participle.

Question 57

I must send back the letter.

Answer 57

Devo spedire indietro la lettura.

(Adverbs of location are often placed before the direct object)