Italian Adjectives: List, Types and Examples

What are the adjectives in Italian? The main types, with the list and examples of the most important ones: qualifying, demonstrative, indefinite and others.Adjectives are among the fundamental elements of the Italian language, which clarify and enrich speech, but also have the power to modify nouns. The Italian adjectives that we know and use daily are of different types, and are mainly divided into two macro categories:

Qualifying adjectives

Qualifying adjectives – as the word itself says – indicate the quality of a noun:

  • A handsome man
  • A good restaurant

Depending on their role, they perform different types of functions:

  • Attributive : Happy people convey positivity
  • Predicative : Lucia seems happy
  • Adverbial : Lucia goes fast

Next to these adjectives, there are relational adjectives :

Lucia is a sunny girl –> sunny does not refer to the sun, but indicates a quality of Lucia.

Definitive adjectives

Definitive adjectives , also called indicative , better determine the noun, through elements that indicate quantity, possession, interrogation or much more. Let’s look at them in detail:

  • Possessive adjectives : My house is big
  • Demonstrative adjectives : This shirt is too big for me
  • Indefinite adjectives : I didn’t choose just any house
  • Interrogative adjectives : Which house are you talking about?
  • Exclamatory adjectives : What a big house you have!
  • Numeral adjectives : I have two houses

Adjectives: examples

Here are some examples of adjectives that can be used to describe a person:

  • Affectionate
  • Generous
  • Kind regards
  • Gentle
  • Reliable
  • Shy
  • Sad
  • Grumpy
  • Prudent
  • Prickly
  • Spoiled
  • Impertinent

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