Breakdown of Quel quadro là è vecchio o nuovo?
essere
to be
nuovo
new
vecchio
old
o
or
quello
that
là
there (far away)
il quadro
the painting
Questions & Answers about Quel quadro là è vecchio o nuovo?
Why is it quel quadro instead of quello quadro?
When "that" is used as an adjective (coming directly before a noun), it changes its ending based on the noun, exactly like the word for "the" (il, lo, la). Since "the painting" is il quadro, "that painting" becomes quel quadro. You only use the full word quello before a noun if it normally takes lo (like quello studente).
If quel already means "that", why is là added?
In Italian, it is very common to add là (there) or lì (here) after the noun to emphasize the location, much like saying "that painting over there" in English. It pairs with the demonstrative adjective quel to make it crystal clear which painting you are pointing out.
Why do vecchio and nuovo end in -o?
Adjectives must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Because quadro is a masculine singular noun, both adjectives end in -o. If you were asking about a feminine noun like casa (house), the sentence would change to: Quella casa là è vecchia o nuova?
Why does là have an accent mark?
The accent mark changes the meaning of the word. Without the accent, la is the feminine word for "the" or "it". With the accent, là means "there". The accent helps you tell them apart in writing, and reminds you to stress that word when speaking.
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