Learn Italian: Queste penne sono nere.

Queste is the feminine plural form of "these". Since penne (pens) is a feminine plural noun (the singular is penna), we must use queste. If we were pointing at masculine plural words, like libri (books), we would use questi.

Why does the word for black end in 'e' here (nere)?

In Italian, adjectives have to match the gender and number of the noun they describe. The base dictionary word for black is nero, but because penne is feminine and plural, the adjective changes to its feminine plural form, nere.

Wait, doesn't sono mean "I am"?

Yes, but it also means "they are"! The verb essere (to be) uses the exact same word, sono, for both "I am" and "they are". Here, the context makes it clear that it means "are" because the subject is "these pens".

Is the word penne related to the famous pasta?

Exactly! The singular word penna means "pen" or "feather". The pasta shape gets its name because its slanted, tubular ends look just like the tips of old-fashioned quill pens.