Shapes and forms
Forme e figure
- Describe forms and shapes.
- Describe basic objects.
- Express preferences.
- The demonstrative adjectives: Questo, quello
Learn Italian demonstrative adjectives with useful vocabulary like questo (this), quella (that), and shapes such as il quadrato (square) and la sfera (sphere). Practice describing sizes and forms using words like grande (big), piccolo (small), largo (wide), and stretto (narrow).
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (16) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Divide the words into two distinct categories: one for geometric shapes and the other for the physical characteristics of objects.
Forme geometriche
Caratteristiche fisiche
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Sottile
Fine
2
Il rettangolo
The rectangle
3
Largo
Wide
4
Il cerchio
The circle
5
La linea
The line
Esercizio 5: Conversation exercise
Istruzione:
- Describe the pictures and compare them. (Describe the pictures and compare them. )
- Ask the others what they prefer. Smaller or bigger cars, .... ? (Ask the others what they prefer. Smaller or bigger cars, .... ?)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Questa macchina è piccola e vecchia. This car is small and old. |
|
Quella macchina è più grande e più nuova. That car is bigger and newer. |
|
I ragazzi indossano pantaloni più larghi. The boys are wearing wider trousers. |
|
Quale auto preferisci? What car do you prefer? |
|
Preferisco un'auto più piccola ma più moderna. I prefer a smaller but more modern car. |
|
Preferisco le auto d'epoca. I prefer old cars. |
|
La strada è molto stretta. The street is very narrow. |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Ieri __________ misurato la larghezza della stanza nuova.
(Yesterday __________ we measured the width of the new room.)2. Il nostro collega __________ misurato lo spazio sotto il tavolo.
(Our colleague __________ measured the space under the table.)3. Quella linea è sottile perché noi __________ misurato poco materiale.
(That line is thin because we __________ measured little material.)4. Questi spazi sono pesanti perché noi __________ misurato la loro densità.
(These spaces are heavy because we __________ measured their density.)Exercise 8: Measuring the shapes in the new house
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Misurare - Misurare
Presente
- io misuro
- tu misuri
- lui/lei misura
- noi misuriamo
- voi misurate
- loro misurano
Misurare - Misurare
Passato prossimo
- io ho misurato
- tu hai misurato
- lui/lei ha misurato
- noi abbiamo misurato
- voi avete misurato
- loro hanno misurato
Scegliere - Scegliere
Passato prossimo
- io ho scelto
- tu hai scelto
- lui/lei ha scelto
- noi abbiamo scelto
- voi avete scelto
- loro hanno scelto
Essere - Essere
Presente
- io sono
- tu sei
- lui/lei è
- noi siamo
- voi siete
- loro sono
Exercise 9: Gli aggettivi dimostrativi: Questo, quello
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: The demonstrative adjectives: Questo, quello
Show translation Show answersquella, Quegli, Questi, quelli, Quel, questo, quelle, questa
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.27.2 Grammatica
Gli aggettivi dimostrativi: Questo, quello
The demonstrative adjectives: Questo, quello
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Misurare to measure Share Copied!
Passato prossimo
| Italian | English |
|---|---|
| (io) ho misurato | I measured |
| (tu) hai misurato | You have measured |
| (lui/lei) ha misurato | He/she has measured |
| (noi) abbiamo misurato | we have measured |
| (voi) avete misurato | You have measured |
| (loro) hanno misurato | they have measured |
Don't see progress when learning on your own? Study this material with a certified teacher!
Do you want to practice Italian today? That is possible! Just contact one of our teachers today.
Introduction to Demonstrative Adjectives and Shapes in Italian
This lesson focuses on learning how to use Italian demonstrative adjectives—questo (this) and quello (that)—to describe shapes and forms. These adjectives help specify objects based on their proximity or distance from the speaker and are essential for everyday conversations, especially when discussing sizes, colors, and forms.
Key Vocabulary: Geometric Shapes and Descriptive Adjectives
We will explore common geometric shapes and adjectives that describe size and form. Understanding these words is the foundation for expressing descriptions accurately.
- Geometric Shapes: il quadrato (square), il rettangolo (rectangle), il triangolo (triangle), la linea (line), la sfera (sphere)
- Descriptive Adjectives for Size: grande (big), piccolo (small), largo (wide), stretto (narrow)
Using Demonstrative Adjectives with Shapes
Italian demonstrative adjectives change depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify, as well as the distance of the object from the speaker:
- Questo, questa, questi, queste (this/these—near the speaker)
- Quello, quella, quei, quelle (that/those—far from the speaker)
Examples include: Questo quadrato è grande e colorato. (This square is big and colorful.) and Quella sfera è piccola e leggera. (That sphere is small and light.)
Practical Dialogue Scenarios
To practice using these expressions in real-life contexts, dialogues simulate conversations:
- At the furniture store describing nearby and distant objects.
- In the office talking about items on the desk and expressing preferences.
- At the market discussing the shapes and colors of fruits and other products.
Verb Practice with "Misurare" (To Measure)
This lesson also introduces relevant verbs in the passato prossimo (present perfect) tense related to measuring and describing shapes. For example:
- Io ho misurato la larghezza del rettangolo con un righello. (I measured the width of the rectangle with a ruler.)
- Tu hai misurato la lunghezza della linea sottile. (You measured the length of the thin line.)
Brief Grammar Note: Demonstrative Adjectives in Italian vs. English
Unlike English where "this," "that," "these," and "those" are invariant, Italian demonstrative adjectives agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they describe. Also, Italian differentiates proximity more explicitly with forms like questo/questa for close objects and quello/quella for objects farther away, while English mainly relies on context.
Useful Phrases and Differences
- Questo/Questa (this): Used for objects close to the speaker. English equivalents: "this" or "these."
- Quello/Quella (that): Used for objects farther away. English equivalents: "that" or "those."
- Misurare (to measure): A regular verb important for describing dimensions of shapes.
These expressions allow you to describe and distinguish objects clearly, an essential skill for everyday conversations in Italian.
These lessons would not be possible without our amazing partners🙏
