61

The demonstrative adjectives and pronouns questo and quello

As you remember, quello takes endings which correspond to those of the definite article: quel, quei, quello, quegli, quella, quelle, quell’.

The demonstrative adjectives questo and quello may also be used as demonstrative pronouns, but as a demonstrative pronoun only four forms of quello are used: quello, quella, quelli, and quelle.

Prenda questo. — Take this [this one].

Questa cravatta è migliore di quella. — This tie is better than that one.

These demonstrative pronouns are also used to express the idea of “the former” and “the latter.” When the thing or person referred to is masculine in gender, the plural forms questi, quei, and quegli are used, even though each may refer only to a singular subject. When the thing or person referred to is of feminine gender, the usual forms are used: questa and quella in the singular, queste and quelle in the plural.

Ex.: A chi un segreto? Ad un bugiardo [liar] o a un muto: Questi non parla, e quei non è creduto. —Filippo Pananti

To whom [do you tell] a secret? To a liar or a mute? The latter doesn’t speak and the former is never believed. —Filippo Pananti

Note that, unlike English usage, “the latter” is always mentioned first (questi in the preceding example).

The idea of “the latter” for the pronoun meaning “this one” is logical if you consider that in reading or writing, “the latter” is closer to the eyes or pen. Conversely, “the former” is farther; hence the pronoun meaning “that one.”

One can also use primo/prima and secondo/seconda (or ultimo/ultima) to mean “the former” (literally, “first”) and “the latter” (literally, “second” or, for ultimo, “last”):

Ex: Churchill e Garibaldi sono due grandi uomini, il primo inglese e il secondo italiano.

Churchill and Garibaldi are two great men, the first English and the second Italian. 

VOCABULARY A

VOCABULARY B