Adjectives and colours
An Italian adjective often follows its noun: , , . Some common adjectives can come before it too, as in .
Adjectives agree in gender and number. A typical pattern is masculine singular , feminine singular , masculine plural and feminine plural .
Many colours follow the same pattern: and . Other describing words do too: .
Adjectives ending in -e, such as , usually have one singular form for both genders and a plural in -i: , . The colour stays the same.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -o / -a | / | masculine / feminine singular |
| masculine / feminine singular | ||
| -i / -e | / | masculine / feminine plural |
| masculine / feminine plural | ||
| / | big / big | |
| big / big | ||
| / | old | |
| old | ||
| / | small | |
| small | ||
È un divano giallo.It is a yellow sofa.
È una lampada rossa.It is a red lamp.
L'armadio è molto vecchio.The wardrobe is very old.
Le sedie sono bianche.The chairs are white.
La porta è piccola.The door is small.
Il tavolo è bianco.The table is white.
Sono il nuovo vicino tedesco.I am the new German neighbour.
Sono la nuova vicina tedesca.I am the new German neighbour.
La valigia è grande.The suitcase is big.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
It is a yellow sofa.
.
It is a red lamp.
.
The wardrobe is very old.
.
The chairs are white.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
È un divano .
It is a yellow sofa.
È una lampada .
It is a red lamp.
L'armadio è molto .
The wardrobe is very old.
Le sedie sono .
The chairs are white.
La porta è .
The door is small.
Il tavolo è .
The table is white.
Sono il nuovo vicino .
I am the new German neighbour.
Sono la nuova vicina .
I am the new German neighbour.
La valigia è .
The suitcase is big.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
L'armadio è molto .
The wardrobe is very old.
Le sedie sono .
The chairs are white.
La porta è .
The door is small.
Il tavolo è .
The table is white.
Sono il nuovo vicino .
I am the new German neighbour.
Sono la nuova vicina .
I am the new German neighbour.
La valigia è .
The suitcase is big.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
It is a yellow sofa.
It is a red lamp.
The wardrobe is very old.
The chairs are white.
The door is small.
The table is white.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
It is a yellow sofa.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
It is a yellow sofa.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
It is a red lamp.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
It is a red lamp.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The wardrobe is very old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The wardrobe is very old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The chairs are white.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The chairs are white.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
