italiano · B1 · grammar · 4 minutes
Questo, quello, and demonstrative pronouns
Use questo for near/current and quello for contrasted/distant, with article-like forms before nouns.
Understand the choice
Demonstratives can modify a noun or replace it. Quello’s changing forms respond to the next sound before a noun, while standalone quello/quella/quelli/quelle preserve the omitted noun’s gender and number.
Core rule: Questo agrees regularly; quello before a noun follows definite-article patterns: quel, quello, quell’, quei, quegli, quelle.
Notice it in context
Preferisco questa soluzione a quella che abbiamo provato ieri.
I prefer this solution to the one we tried yesterday.
Quella replaces feminine soluzione and is specified by a che relative clause.
Quel libro è più chiaro di quello.
That book is clearer than that one.
Quel modifies ordinary masculine libro; quello stands alone.
Quegli studenti lavorano con queste colleghe.
Those students work with these colleagues.
Quegli appears before st-; queste agrees feminine plural.
What to remember
- Codesto refers to something near the listener but is regionally/formally restricted.
- Questo can refer to the current topic, not only physical nearness.
Common trap: Do not use quel before s+consonant: quello studente, quegli studenti.