The easiest way to ask a question is to simply add a question mark to the end of the statement.
You can also put the subject at the end of the sentence. Il ragazzo mangia la pizza becomes Mangia la pizza, il ragazzo?
Or, if you're speaking to a Sardinian, you can put the verb at the end of the sentence. Parla francese? can become Francese parla? Does he/she speak French?
Comparative and Superlative
Comparisons are expressed as follows:
più... di / che
meno... di / che
così... come
tanto... quanto |
more... than
less... than
as... as
as... as |
Più and meno can be used with di or che. Di is used when comparing two different things, while che is used when the comparison is between two qualities of the same thing.
Le ciliege sono più buone delle fragole. Cherries are better than strawberries.
La mela è più verde che rossa. The apple is more green than red.
Franco è così alto come me. Frank is as tall as me.
The Relative Superlative compares two or more things and expresses the greatest or the least degree. It is formed by placing the article before the comparative form of the adjective, or in front of the noun. And instead of the prepostion in, di (and its contractions) is always used with the superlative.
Le mele sono la frutta meno costosa del mondo. Apples are the least expensive fruit in the world.
L'oro è il più prezioso dei metalli. Gold is the most precious metal.
Questo è il palazzo più alto di Napoli. This is the tallest building in Naples.
The Absolute Superlative expresses an extreme degree or absolute state of something without comparison. This can be expressed in several ways in Italian.
Drop the last vowel of the adjective and add -issimo, -issima, -issimi, or -issime.
Le fragole sono dolcissime. Strawberries are very sweet.
Place the words molto, troppo, or assai before the adjective.
Questa arancia è molto buona. This orange is very good.
Repeat the adjective or adverb.
Lei parla piano piano. She speaks very softly.
Some adverbs have irregular comparative, relative superlative, and absolute superlative forms. The most common are:
| Adverb |
Comparative |
Relative Superlative |
Absolute Superlative |
bene
male
molto
poco |
well
badly
much
little |
meglio
peggio
più
meno |
better
worse
more
less |
(il) meglio
(il) peggio
(il) più
(il) meno |
(the) best
(the) worst
(the) most
(the) least |
ottimamente
pessimamente
moltissimo
pochissimo |
very well
very badly
very much
very little |
