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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?
- Film is masculine: il film, un film.
- The plural is invariable: i film (no final -s).
- If you replace it with a direct object pronoun: Lo (e.g., L’ho visto = “I’ve seen it [the film]”).
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.