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Una Pizza Grande o Una Grande Pizza?

Position of Adjectives
Workbook Exercises About This Topic

1. Adjectives generally follow the noun.

È una lingua difficile. (It is a difficult language.)
Marina è una ragazza generosa. Marina is a generous girl.)

Note that adjectives of colors that derive from nouns are invariable.

Non trovo il maglione rosa. (I can't find the pink sweater.)

The adjective blu (blue, navy), which is monosyllabic, is also invariable.

Porto la giacca e i pantaloni blu in lavanderia. (I'm taking the blue coat and pants to the laundry.)

2. Certain common adjectives, however, generally come before the noun. Here are the most common:

bello (beautiful)
bravo (good, able)
brutto (ugly)
buono (good)
caro (dear)
cattivo (bad)
giovane (young)
grande (large; great)
lungo (long)
nuovo (new)
piccolo (small, little)
stesso (same)
vecchio (old)
vero (true)

Anna è una cara amica. (Anna is a dear friend.)
Gino è un bravo dottore. (Gino is a good doctor.)
È un brutt'affare. (It's a bad situation.)

But even these adjectives must follow the noun for emphasis or contrast, and when modified by an adverb.

Oggi non porta l'abito vecchio, porta un abito nuovo. Today he is not wearing the old suit, he is wearing a new suit.)

Abitano iu una casa molto piccola. (They live in a very small house.)

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