Quello (in all its forms) is the demonstrative adjective used to refer to persons or things "over there". The English equivalent would be "that, those".
| |
Singular |
Plural |
Masculine
|
quello / quell' / quel |
quei / quegli |
Feminine
|
quella / quell' |
quelle |
How to use:
The masculine singular form quello is used before z, impure s (s+consonant), x, ps, gn
Examples:
Quello zaino / That rucksack
Quello psicologo / That psychologist
The elided masculine singular form quell' is used before vowels
Examples:
Quell'anno / That year
Quell'armadio / That cupboard (wardrobe)
The masculine singular form quel is used before all consonants [except for z, impure s (s+consonant), x, ps, gn]
Examples:
Quel cane / That dog
Quel fiume / That river
The feminine singular form quella is used before all consonants
Examples:
Quella donna / That woman
Quella ragazza / That girl
The feminine singular form quell' is used before all vowels
Examples:
Quell'anatra / That duck
Quell'oliva / That olive
The masculine plural form quei is used before all consonants [except for z, impure s (s+consonant), x, ps, gn]
Examples:
Quei cani / Those dogs
Quei ragazzi / Those kids
The masculine plural form quegli is used before vowels, z, impure s (s+consonant), x, ps, gn]
Examples:
Quegli inizi / Those beginnings
Quegli armadi / Those cupboards (wardrobes)
There is only one form the for feminine plural, and is quelle
Examples:
Quelle donne / Those women
Quelle altalene / Those swings
Quello can be used also as a pronoun. When used as a pronoun, its plural form is reduced to quelli, as quegli is the third-person masculine singular form referring to persons (see specific lesson dedicated to that).
For example:
Io prendo questo cappello, tu quello / I take this hat you take that
Used as a pronoun in the masculine singular form quello means "that thing" "what".
Examples:
Non sono venuto per quello, ho altre cose da dirti / I didn't come here for that, I have other things to tell you
Quello che intendevo dire è che ti amo / What I meant is that I love you
Quello (in all its forms) is used sometimes as a pejorative term. It adds a disparaging shade to one's reference. In that acception it is often accompanied by the adverbs of place lì and là.
For example:
Quello lì è un furbo / That guy is a sly one
Quella là vuole solo farsi sposare / That girl just wants to get married
Quelli lì sono dei ladri / Those guys are thieves
Quelle lì non sanno proprio farsi gli affari loro / Those girls have no idea of what it means to mind one's own business
