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Questo film è avvincente.

Questo film è avvincente.
This film is gripping.
FromLesson 59inHardcore Italian

Breakdown of Questo film è avvincente.

essere
to be
questo
this
il film
the film
avvincente
gripping

Questions & Answers about Questo film è avvincente.

Why is there no article after the demonstrative in Questo film? Why not Questo il film?
In Italian, demonstratives like questo/questa/questi/queste already make the noun definite, so you normally do not add a definite article after them: questo film, not questo il film. You may see both together in special headline/announcer style (e.g., Questo il risultato...), but that’s not standard in everyday speech.
Can I also say Questo è un film avvincente? Is there any difference?

Yes, that’s correct. Both are natural, with a slight nuance:

  • Questo film è avvincente states a property of the specific film you’re pointing to.
  • Questo è un film avvincente presents it as an example of the category “gripping films,” a bit more classificatory. In many contexts, they’re interchangeable.
Does avvincente change for gender and number?
  • It’s an adjective with two endings: singular -e, plural -i.
  • Masculine/feminine singular: avvincente (same form for both).
  • Masculine/feminine plural: avvincenti. Examples:
  • Questo film è avvincente.
  • Questa serie è avvincente.
  • Questi film sono avvincenti.
  • Queste serie sono avvincenti.
Is film masculine or feminine? How do I make the plural?
How do I pronounce the whole sentence?
  • Broad IPA: /ˈkwesto film ɛ avvinˈtʃɛnte/
  • Simple guide:
    • Questo: KWEH-sto
    • film: like English “film,” one syllable
    • è: open “eh” (as in “bet”)
    • avvincente: ahv-VEEN-CHEN-teh (the C before E is “ch”; the double V is a bit longer)
What’s the difference between è and e here?
  • è (with grave accent) = “is” (3rd person singular of essere).
  • e (no accent) = “and.”
  • Don’t write e' or é for “is”; the correct form is è.
When should I use questo versus quello?
  • questo = “this,” typically something near the speaker (physically, temporally, or in discourse).
  • quello = “that,” typically farther away. Examples:
  • Questo film è avvincente. (the one here/just mentioned)
  • Quel film è avvincente. (the one over there/mentioned earlier) Note: quello changes like the definite article: quel film, quell’amico, quello studente; plural quei, quegli.
How do I say “These films are captivating”?
  • Questi film sono avvincenti. Remember: film is invariable in the plural; the adjective becomes avvincenti.
Can I shorten questo to quest’ before film?
No. Elision (quest’) only happens before a vowel sound: quest’anno, quest’uomo. Since film starts with a consonant, use questo film.
How strong is avvincente? Are there useful near-synonyms?
  • avvincente suggests “gripping, compelling,” the kind that hooks your attention.
  • Close options:
    • coinvolgente = engaging/involving (you feel drawn in)
    • appassionante = exciting/passion-stirring (often stories/sports)
    • emozionante = moving/thrilling (emotional impact)
    • intrigante = intriguing (sparks curiosity) Use them according to the nuance you want.
What about convincente? It looks similar to avvincente.

False friend alert:

  • convincente = convincing, persuasive (e.g., un’interpretazione convincente = “a convincing performance”).
  • avvincente = gripping/compelling (keeps you glued to it). They are not interchangeable.
How do I intensify or soften the statement?
  • Intensify: Questo film è davvero/proprio/molto avvincente.
  • Soften: Questo film è abbastanza/piuttosto avvincente.
  • Negative: Questo film non è (per niente/affatto) avvincente.
Is avvincente formal? Can I use it in conversation?
It’s neutral and common in both speech and writing. You’ll hear it in everyday talk and see it in reviews.
Can I add a pointing adverb like qui for emphasis?
Yes, for colloquial emphasis you can say questo film qui (literally “this film here”). It’s informal and adds extra pointing; the simple questo film is already sufficient in most cases.
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