Pointing Things Out: "These"
To point out multiple objects or people nearby, use a plural demonstrative adjective ("these"). Like other adjectives, they must match the gender of the noun they describe.
- questi – these (masculine plural)
- queste – these (feminine plural)
Here is questi in action with masculine nouns:
| These gifts are very beautiful. | Questi regali sono molto belli. |
| These books are very difficult. | Questi libri sono molto difficili. |
And here is queste with feminine nouns:
| These boxes are full. | Queste scatole sono piene. |
| Are these letters old? | Queste lettere sono vecchie? |
Demonstratives as Pronouns
You can also use questi and queste all by themselves to mean "these" or "these ones." When used this way, they act as pronouns, but they still match the gender of the noun they replace.
| These are the new books. | Questi sono i libri nuovi. |
| The shops are closed today, but these are open. | I negozi sono chiusi oggi, ma questi sono aperti. |
| The chairs are occupied, but these are free. | Le sedie sono occupate, ma queste sono libere. |
Listing Multiple Items
In English, we usually say "these pens and notebooks." In Italian, repeat the demonstrative before each noun in the list to match its specific gender.
| These pens and these notebooks are here. | Queste penne e questi quaderni sono qui. |
| These gifts and these dresses are new. | Questi regali e questi vestiti sono nuovi. |
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