Italian/Grammar/Interrogatives
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Interrogatives in Italian Grammar[edit | edit source]
Interrogatives, or "parole interrogative," are used to ask questions in Italian. They are essential tools for obtaining information and are typically placed at the beginning of a sentence. Here are the main interrogatives in Italian:
1. **Chi?** - Who? 2. **Che cosa? / Cosa? / Che?** - What? 3. **Quando?** - When? 4. **Dove?** - Where? 5. **Perché?** - Why? 6. **Come?** - How? 7. **Quanto/a/i/e?** - How much/many?
Let's look at each one in more detail:
- **Chi? (Who?)**: This interrogative is used to ask about people. For example, "Chi è quella persona?" (Who is that person?).
- **Che cosa? / Cosa? / Che? (What?)**: These interrogatives are interchangeable and used to inquire about things or activities. For example, "Che cosa stai facendo?" (What are you doing?).
- **Quando? (When?)**: This interrogative is used to ask about time. For example, "Quando arriva il treno?" (When does the train arrive?).
- **Dove? (Where?)**: This interrogative is used to ask about location. For example, "Dove abiti?" (Where do you live?).
- **Perché? (Why?)**: This interrogative is used to ask for explanations or reasons. For example, "Perché sei triste?" (Why are you sad?).
- **Come? (How?)**: This interrogative is used to ask about the manner in which something is done. For example, "Come stai?" (How are you?).
- **Quanto/a/i/e? (How much/many?)**: This interrogative agrees in gender and number with the noun it refers to. It's used to ask about quantity. For example, "Quanto zucchero vuoi nel caffè?" (How much sugar do you want in the coffee?).
Remember, the use of intonation is crucial when asking questions in Italian. Even without these interrogatives, you can turn a statement into a question by raising your intonation at the end of the sentence.