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How to say "This or These" in Italian


This or these, can be demonstrative adjectives by pointing to a noun or demonstrative pronouns by replacing the noun they are pointing to. As with the definite and indefinite articles in Italian, the words for this and these must agree with the noun to which they are pointing in gender and number.

If you would like to learn more about demonstratives, please see the note at the bottom of this page.

Italian has (5) choices for "this and these" and the method for choosing which one to use is as follows:

(click on Questo, Questa, Quest', Questi and Queste for brief pronunciation examples)

For singular nouns (this)
Quest' - Use this for all singular nouns starting with a vowel.
Questo - use this for all masculine singular nouns starting with a consonant.
Questa - use this for all feminine singular nouns starting with a consonant.

For plural nouns (these)
Questi - use this for all masculine plural nouns.
Queste -use this for all feminine plural nouns.

Click on the appropriate demonstrative for the noun to the right

Singular Nouns

bambino
bambina
amica
zaino
carrota
gonna
edificio
stomaco
dottore (M)
esperienza
arancia
libro
lezione (F)
studente (M)
autostrada
barca
motorino
zio
cucchiaio
motocicletta
donna
spuntino
treno
opinione (F)
Plural Nouns

bambini
bambine
amiche
zaini
carrote
gonne
edifici
stomaci
dottori
esperienze
arancie
libri
lezioni
studenti
autostrade
barche
motorini
zii
cucchiai
motociclette
donne
spuntini
treni
opinioni


Singular & Plural Nouns

ragazzi
negozzio
banane
spazzolino
guerra
professore
mela
colline
incarico
ospiti
piatti
comodini
stivali
scrivanie
monumenti
teatro
appunti
strumento
cartelle
letture
compito
assegno
bandiera
matita


You can learn more about demonstratives on pages 133 - 135 and 169 - 172 of "English Grammar for Students of Italian", pages 150 - 152 of "Ciao", pages 76 - 84 of "Complete Italian Grammar or pages 101 - 104 of "Italian Pronouns and Prepositions". If you do not own any of these books, don't worry, it is not mandatory that you do. However, they can be very useful in a lot of ways and if you would like to know more about these books and where to buy them, simply go to our online bookstore.
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