Italian grammar: Adjectives

Adjectives of quality in Italian

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Adjectives, in Italian, are a variable part of speech. They do not have an autonomous existence, but are always connected to a noun in order to give it a quality or better specify it.

Adjectives have two basic functions:

1. An attributive function, when they refer directly to the noun;

Example: Una casa bianca (a white house), un libro interessante (an interesting book).

2. A predicative function, when they refer to the noun thorugh a copulative verb.

Example: La casa é bianca (the house is white), quel libro sembra interessante (that book seems interesting).

Depending on the type of information that adjectives add to the noun, we have the following classification:

Adjectives of quality (aggettivi qualificativi)
Possessives (aggettivi possessivi)
Demonstratives (aggettivi dimostrativi)
Indefinites (aggettivi indefiniti)
Numerals
Interrogatives and exclamatory adjectives

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