This lesson covers indefinite adjectives in Italian like 'ogni' (every), 'qualche' (some), 'troppo' (too much), 'altro' (other), and 'alcuni' (a few), focusing on their usage to indicate generic quantities and correct agreement with nouns in contexts such as daily transport.
- "Ogni" is always singular and indicates a totality.
- "Troppo" indicates an excess.
- "Qualche" and "alcuni" indicate a medium/small quantity.
- "Altro" indicates an additional quantity to the one already present.
- All these adjectives, except ogni and qualche, agree with the gender and number of the noun.
| Aggettivo (Adjective) | Esempio (Example) |
|---|---|
| Ogni | Uso ogni giorno la bici (I use the bike every day) |
| Qualche | Prendo qualche autobus (I take some buses) |
| Troppo | C'è troppa gente (There are too many people) Ci sono troppi veicoli (There are too many vehicles) |
| Altro | Prendo un altro treno (I take another train) Uso un'altra bici (I use another bike) |
| Alcuni | Ho visto alcuni ciclisti (I saw some cyclists) Ci sono alcune zone verdi (There are some green areas) |
Exceptions!
- "Alcuno" in the singular is synonymous with "nessuno". Example: "non ho alcuna voglia di prendere l'autobus" = "non ho nessuna voglia di prendere l'autobus".
Exercise 1: Gli aggettivi indefiniti: 'ogni', 'qualche', 'troppo',etc...
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
troppe, ogni, alcuna, qualche, alcuni, troppo, alcune, altra
1.
Eccesso:
C'è ... traffico in città alle 6 di pomeriggio.
(There is too much traffic in the city at 6 in the evening.)
2.
Quantità media/piccola:
Ci sono ... ciclisti sulla pista ciclabile.
(There are some cyclists on the cycle path.)
3.
Totalità:
Uso ... giorno la mia bicicletta.
(I use my bicycle every day.)
4.
Quantità media/piccola:
Cammino in ... zona verde tranquilla.
(I walk in some quiet green area.)
5.
Ulteriore:
Scelgo un'... bicicletta per viaggiare.
(I choose another bicycle to travel.)
6.
Eccesso:
Ho visto ... auto inquinanti oggi.
(I have seen too many polluting cars today.)
7.
Negazione:
Non ho ... voglia di prendere l'autobus.
(I have no desire to take the bus.)
8.
Quantità media/piccola:
Abbiamo parlato con ... persone interessate.
(We have spoken with some interested people.)
Exercise 2: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct sentence regarding the use of the indefinite adjectives 'ogni', 'qualche', 'troppo' and 'altro' in contexts of sustainable transport and daily life.
1.
'Ogni' is used with singular nouns; furthermore, 'comfortable' and 'clean' do not agree with the singular subject 'bus'.
'Ogni' requires a singular noun; 'mornings' is plural, so it is incorrect.
2.
'There is' is used with singular, while 'too many vehicles' is plural; therefore the sentence is incorrect.
'Troppi' is masculine plural while 'people' is feminine singular; therefore the agreement is wrong.
3.
'Some' (alcuni) is correct for a medium/small plural quantity; in this specific context 'qualche' is more natural. For this exercise we choose the example with 'qualche' as correct.
'Offices' is plural and does not agree with the sentence talking about a specific place; moreover, 'qualche' cannot precede plural nouns without an article.
4.
'Altro' must agree in gender and number with the noun: 'bike' is feminine singular, so it is 'un'altra'.
'Altre' is feminine plural, but the context requires the singular because it talks about one bike.
