INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES IN ITALIAN
– Interrogative adjectives allow us to ask a question about quality, quantity or identity of the noun we are referring to.
– Exclamative adjectives, instead, allow us to exclaim about quality, quantity or identity of the noun we are referring to.
In Italian, we have 3 of these adjectives that are used both in questions and in exclamations:
SINGULAR
Masculine
che
quale
quanto
Feminine
che
quale
quanta
PLURAL
Masculine
che
quali
quanti
Feminine
che
quali
quante
Let’s go into some more details:
- CHE is used to ask questions or exclaim about the identity of the noun it is refers to. Furthermore, it is invariable both in gender and number.
- QUALE is used to ask questions or exclaim about the quality of the noun it refers to. It changes only in number.
- QUANTO is used to ask questions or exclaim about the quantity of the noun it refers to. It changes both in gender and number.
INTERROGATIVE FUNCTION
In the interrogative form, CHE, QUALE and QUANTO, with their plural and feminine forms, can be used in direct questions (= with a question mark “?” at the end of the sentence in writing, or a high-pitched voice at the end of the sentence in speaking) and in indirect questions (= requests in the form of statements rather than questions in order to be more kind).
Examples of direct questions:
Che tempo farà domani? ⇒ What will the weather be like tomorrow?
Quale vestito preferisci? ⇒ Which dress do you prefer?
Quanto tempo ci resta? ⇒ How long do we have?
Examples of indirect questions:
Vorrei sapere che tempo farà domani ⇒ I would like to know what the weather will be like tomorrow
Dimmi quale vestito preferisci ⇒ Let me know which dress you prefer
Mi piacerebbe essere informata su quanto tempo ci resta ⇒ I would like to be informed about how much time we have left.
EXCLAMATIVE FUNCTION
In the exclamative form, CHE, QUALE and QUANTO are generally used in sentences which have an exclamation mark “!” in writing, and more emphasis in speaking.
Examples of the exclamative form:
Quanto freddo fa oggi! ⇒ How cold it is today!
Che bugiardo che sei! ⇒ What a liar you are!
Quale onore parlare con lei! ⇒ What an honour to talk to you!
That’s it with the lesson on the Italian interrogative and exclamative adjectives. I hope you found it interesting.
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