Iterrogatives

GLI INTERROGATIVI (Questions in Italian)

General Overview

• In Italian, asking questions is crucial for gathering information, resolving issues, and clarifying doubts.

• There are two main types of interrogatives in Italian:

  • Invariabili (Invariable): These interrogatives maintain the same form regardless of context.

  • Variabili (Variable): These interrogatives change depending on the object or context.

Invariabili Interrogativi (Invariable Interrogatives)

• The following are examples of invariable interrogatives, their meanings, and usage in sentences:

  • Che? (What?)

  • Meaning: What?

  • Examples:

    • Che dici? (What do you say?)

    • Che cosa hai fatto ieri sera? (What did you do last night?)

    • Cosa preferisci mangiare? (What would you like to eat?)

  • Che + nome (What kind of? / What type of?)

  • Examples:

    • Che macchina hai? (What kind of car do you have?)

    • Che libro leggi? (What book are you reading?)

  • Chi? (Who?)

  • Meaning: Who?

  • Example:

    • Chi è la professoressa di chimica? (Who is the chemistry professor?)

  • Quanto + verbo (How much?)

  • Meaning: How much?

  • Examples:

    • Quanto costa il gelato? (How much does the ice cream cost?)

    • Quanto costano i pantaloni? (How much do the pants cost?)

  • Perché? (Why?)

  • Meaning: Why?

  • Example:

    • Perché non sei venuto alla festa? (Why didn't you come to the party?)

  • Quando? (When?)

  • Meaning: When?

  • Examples:

    • Quando tornano dalle vacanze? (When are they coming back from vacation?)

    • Quando hai vissuto in Italia? (When did you live in Italy?)

  • Come? (How?)

  • Meaning: How?

  • Examples:

    • Come stai? (How are you?)

    • Come sei arrivata a scuola? (How did you get to school?)

  • Dove? (Where?)

  • Meaning: Where?

  • Examples:

    • Dove ci incontriamo? (Where shall we meet?)

    • Di dove sei? (Where are you from?)

    • Dove vanno? (Where are they going?)

Note on Elision

• Elision is possible with the verb "essere" (to be) in the following contexts:

  • Come - com’è il film? (How is the movie?)

  • Com’è l’università? (How is the university?)

  • Dove - dov’è il museo? (Where is the museum?)

  • Dov’è la nostra macchina? (Where is our car?)

  • Cosa/che cosa – che cos’è l’astronomia? (What is astronomy?)

Variabili Interrogativi (Variable Interrogatives)

• Below are examples of variable interrogatives along with their meanings, contexts of use, and examples:

  • Quale? (Which?)

  • Usage: Nouns in singular form

  • Example:

    • Quale macchina preferisci? (Which car do you prefer?)

  • Quali? (Which?)

  • Usage: Nouns in plural form

  • Example:

    • Quali libri leggi? (Which books are you reading?)

  • Qual è? (Which is?)

  • Usage: Nouns in singular form

  • Example:

    • Qual è la strada a Pescara? (Which is the road to Pescara?)

  • Quanto? (How much?)

  • Usage: Male nouns in singular form

  • Example:

    • Quanto caffè bevi? (How much coffee do you drink?)

  • Quanta? (How much?)

  • Usage: Female nouns in singular form

  • Example:

    • Quanta torta vuoi mangiare? (How much cake do you want to eat?)

  • Quanti? (How many?)

  • Usage: Male nouns in plural form

  • Example:

    • Quanti film hai guardato? (How many movies have you watched?)

  • Quante? (How many?)

  • Usage: Female nouns in plural form

  • Example:

    • Quante scarpe hai nell’armadio? (How many shoes do you have in your closet?)

Interrogativi with Prepositions

• Occasionally, it is necessary to use prepositions along with interrogatives. Examples include:

  • A chi? (To whom?)

  • Example:

    • A chi parli? (To whom are you speaking?)

    • Parlo alla professoressa. (I am speaking to the professor.)

  • Con chi? (With whom?)

  • Example:

    • Con chi esci stasera? (With whom are you going out tonight?)

    • Esco con i miei amici. (I am going out with my friends.)

  • Da dove? (From where?)

  • Example:

    • Da dove vieni? (From where do you come?)

    • Vengo dall’università. (I come from the university.)

  • Di che cosa? (Of what?)

  • Example:

    • Di che cosa parli? (What are you talking about?)

    • Parlo della letteratura. (I am talking about literature.)

  • Per chi? (For whom?)

  • Example:

    • Per chi è questo regalo? (For whom is this gift?)

    • È per mio papà. (It is for my dad.)

  • Di chi? (Possession)

  • Example:

    • Di chi è questo libro? (Whose book is this?)

    • È di mio cugino. (It belongs to my cousin.)