Demonstrative adjectives determine the name based on the speaker’s spatial and temporal perspective (near or far in space, time, or even within speech).
Demonstrative adjectives are questo, quello, and codesto. They are placed before the name and don’t take the article.
| Masculine singular | Masculine plural | Feminine singular | Feminine plural |
| Questo | Questi | Questa | Queste |
| Quello Quell’ Quel | Quei Quegli | Quella | Quelle |
| Codesto | Codesti | Codesta | Codeste |
Questo
Questo indicates a person or thing nearby (qui = here, near me):
- Vicina nella spazio: Questo libro è pieno di disegni.
- Close in space: This book is full of drawings.
- Vivina nel tempo: Questa settimana fa caldo.
- Close in time:
In everyday language, the abbreviated forms of questo are very common: sto, sta, sti, ste (they are also found with the initial apostrophe ‘sto, ‘sta). This is a common use throughout Italy. The use of these forms is permitted only in informal language and writing.
- È pronta ‘sta pasta?
- Is this pasta ready?
- È difficile accettare ‘sti risultati.
- It is difficult to accept these results
Quello
Quello indicates a person or thing far away (là = there, far from me):
- Lontana nello spazio: Quella casa sulla collina è del sindaco.
- Far out in Space: That house on the hill belongs to the mayor.
- Lontana nel tempo: Quell’anno siano andati in vacanza in Portogallo.
- Far in time: That year they went on holiday to Portugal.
The forms of the masculine vary and take the same uses as the definite article.
| Quello | Definite article |
| Quello Quell’ Quel Quei Quegli | lo l’ il i gli |
- Quel racconto >> quei racconti.
- That story >> those stories.
- Quello zingaro >> quegli zingari.
- That gypsy >> those gypsies.
- Quell’asino >> quegli asini.
- That donkey >> those donkeys.
The form quello/quelli are found only at the end of sentences or used as a pronoun:
- Il tuo posto è quello.
- That’s your place.
- I tuoi appunti sono quelli.
- Those are your notes.
Codesto
It is used almost exclusively in Tuscany, or in bureaucratic language. In standard language, it is replaced by “questo“.
When you bureaucratically address an office/school/institute/university/institution, etc. for questions or requests, we usually write.
- Si prega codesto ufficio / codesta università di inviare al più presto…
- Please send this office/university as soon as possible…