Breakdown of Questo passaggio è stretto.
Questions & Answers about Questo passaggio è stretto.
Why is it questo passaggio and not questa passaggio?
Because passaggio is a masculine singular noun in Italian, so the demonstrative must match it.
- questo = this (masculine singular)
- questa = this (feminine singular)
So:
- questo passaggio = this passage / this passageway
- questa strada = this street
Italian demonstratives agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.
What does passaggio mean exactly?
Passaggio can mean several related things depending on context, such as:
- passage
- passageway
- corridor
- way through
- sometimes even crossing or transition
In Questo passaggio è stretto, it most naturally means a physical passageway or narrow space you go through.
Why is there an accent in è?
Why is stretto at the end of the sentence?
Because stretto is being used as a predicate adjective after the verb essere (to be).
The structure is:
- Questo passaggio = subject
- è = is
- stretto = narrow
This is very similar to English:
- This passage is narrow
Italian adjectives can appear after a noun when directly describing it, or after a verb like essere when they are part of the predicate.
Compare:
Why is it stretto and not stretta?
Because stretto must agree with passaggio, which is masculine singular.
Agreement pattern:
- stretto = masculine singular
- stretta = feminine singular
- stretti = masculine plural
- strette = feminine plural
Examples:
- Questo passaggio è stretto = This passage is narrow
- Questa strada è stretta = This street is narrow
- Questi passaggi sono stretti = These passages are narrow
Could I also say Questo è un passaggio stretto?
Yes, but it means something slightly different in structure.
- Questo passaggio è stretto = This passage is narrow.
- Questo è un passaggio stretto = This is a narrow passage.
The first sentence talks about a specific passage and describes it.
The second identifies this thing as a narrow passage.
Both are correct, but they are not used in exactly the same way.
Is stretto only used for physical narrowness?
No. Stretto can be used both literally and figuratively.
Literal:
- una strada stretta = a narrow road
- un passaggio stretto = a narrow passage
Figurative or extended uses:
- in senso stretto = in the strict/narrow sense
- essere a stretto contatto = to be in close contact
- tempi stretti = tight deadlines / limited time
In your sentence, it is clearly the literal physical meaning: narrow.
Can I omit questo and just say Il passaggio è stretto?
How is Questo passaggio è stretto pronounced?
A simple pronunciation guide is:
KWE-stoh pas-SAJ-joh eh STRET-toh
A few details:
- qu in questo sounds like kw
- gg in passaggio sounds like the dg in bridge
- è is pronounced like eh
- tt in stretto is a doubled consonant, so it is pronounced more distinctly than a single t
If you want to sound more natural, stress these syllables:
- QUÉ-sto
- pas-SÀG-gio
- È
- STRÉT-to
Could I say angusto instead of stretto?
Sometimes, yes, but they are not identical.
- stretto is the common everyday word for narrow
- angusto also means narrow/cramped, but it is usually more formal or literary
So:
- Questo passaggio è stretto sounds natural and standard
- Questo passaggio è angusto is possible, but less everyday and may suggest cramped or confined
For a normal learner sentence, stretto is the best choice.
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