Demonstrative adjectives: questo, quello

What these words do: “this” vs “that”

Italian demonstratives point to things.

• questo = “this” (near me / near us)
• quello = “that” (far from me / over there)

Key idea: you choose by distance, then you adjust the form by gender + number, and sometimes by the first sound of the next noun.

Step 1 — Choose near or far

Step 2 — Match gender and number (the simple part)

These forms behave like an adjective: they agree with the noun.

Step 3 — The tricky part: “quello” changes like “il/lo/l’”

Masculine “that” has multiple forms. Choose based on the first sound of the next noun.

Tip: if you already know when to use il vs lo vs l’, you can use the same logic for quel vs quello vs quell’.

Plural “those” (masculine): quei vs quegli

In the masculine plural, Italian splits “those” into two forms.

• quei + most consonants: quei quadri, quei tavoli
• quegli + vowel or “special” starts: quegli amici, quegli zii, quegli studenti, quegli spazi

Quick check: if singular would be quell’ or quello, plural is usually quegli.

Feminine forms: simpler patterns

• quella + consonant: quella porta, quella sedia
• quell’ + vowel: quell’amica, quell’azienda
• quelle (plural for all feminine nouns): quelle sedie, quelle amiche

No feminine equivalent of quegli: for feminine plural you always use quelle.

Common pitfalls to avoid

• Don’t mix distance and agreement: distance (quest-/quel-) and endings (o/a/i/e) must both be correct.
• Don’t use “quello” everywhere:
  • quello tavolo → quel tavolo
  • quel studente → quello studente (st-)
• Watch vowels:
  • quello amico → quell’amico
  • quella amica → quell’amica
• Don’t confuse quei and quegli:
  • quei amici → quegli amici
  • quegli tavoli → quei tavoli

Self-check: choose in 10 seconds

1. Near or far? → quest- / quel-
2. Gender + number? → -o/-a/-i/-e or plural form
3. If it’s “that” + masculine: check the noun’s first sound:
   • vowel → quell’ / quegli
   • s+consonant, z, ps, gn → quello / quegli
   • otherwise → quel / quei

Mini examples (adult, practical)

• Questo report è pronto. / Quel report è nel file condiviso.
• Questa email è urgente. / Quell’email è già stata inviata.
• Quello schermo è troppo piccolo. (s + consonant)
• Quegli studenti sono in aula 3. (st-)
• Quelle riunioni sono lunedì. (feminine plural always quelle)