Question 1

Why is maggiore used for 'older', and does it change if I am talking about a sister?

Accepted Answer

Maggiore is the irregular comparative of grande (big). When discussing family members, it translates to 'older' or 'eldest'. Because it ends in -e, the singular form is identical for both masculine and feminine nouns, so you would say mia sorella maggiore. The plural form for both is maggiori.

Question 2

Usually, adding an adjective to a family member means we need the definite article. Why is there no article before Mio fratello maggiore?

Accepted Answer

Normally, modified family members take the article (like il mio fratello simpatico). However, fratello maggiore (older brother) and sorella minore (younger sister) are treated as single, fixed titles rather than a noun plus a descriptive adjective. Because of this, they follow the standard rule for singular family members and drop the article.

Question 3

Is non solo... ma anche a fixed phrase?

Accepted Answer

Yes, this is a very common phrase meaning 'not only... but also'. It works exactly like its English counterpart to emphasize two related ideas. You simply put non solo right before the first item (i vulcani) and ma anche before the second (i crateri).

Question 4

The English translation just says 'studies volcanoes'. Why does the Italian use the article i in i vulcani?

Accepted Answer

In English, we usually leave out the article when talking about a plural noun in a general sense. In Italian, however, you must keep the definite article (like i or le) when referring to broad categories, general concepts, or whole classes of things like volcanoes and craters.

Mio fratello maggiore studia non solo i vulcani, ma anche i crateri.

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