Lesson 8 - Positioning of adjectives in a phrase
Most commonly the adjective follows the noun it refers to modify or add a specific meaning or characteristic to the noun. Some adjectives can change their meaning according to where they are placed , before or after the noun.
ex. Un caro cugino - un libro caro (= a dear cousin / a expensive book ) —> caro has both the meaning of “expensive” and “dear”.
If an adjective describes,
- nationality
- shape
- color
- material
- scientific feature or category
- Religion
- Political affiliation
- End with -ino, -etto, -otto, -one;
- When the stem comes from the present participle and the adjective ends in -ante or -ente;
- When the adjectives derive from a regular past principle and end in -ato, -ito, -uto;
has to be put after the noun it refers to.
Ex . Una ragazza norvegese (= a Norwegian girl )
Un tavolo rotondo (= a round table )
La religione cattolica (= the Catholic religion )
Un cane piccolino (= a small dog )
La pentola bollente (= the boiling pot )
Il panorama innevato (= the snowy landscape )
