Non accettiamo uno standard qualsiasi; odiamo i risultati mediocri.

Questions & Answers about Non accettiamo uno standard qualsiasi; odiamo i risultati mediocri.

Why is qualsiasi placed after the noun here, and why does it have the article uno?
This is the focus of this lesson! Normally, qualsiasi goes before a noun without an article to mean 'any' (like qualsiasi standard). But when you put it after the noun, you must use an indefinite article (uno). This shifts the meaning to a dismissive 'just any' or an ordinary/random thing. Here, uno standard qualsiasi emphatically means just any run-of-the-mill standard.
Why do we use uno instead of un before standard?
Even though standard is an English loanword, it plays by Italian phonetic rules. Because it starts with an 'impure s' (an s followed by another consonant), it requires the indefinite article uno. Its definite article counterpart would be lo standard.
Why is there an i before risultati mediocri when the English translation just says 'mediocre results'?
Italian requires a definite article when talking about broad categories or generalizations. In English, we drop the article to say we hate mediocre results in general. In Italian, you must include the i to show you mean all instances of risultati mediocri.
Can I use qualsiasi in the plural, for example, to say 'just any results'?
No, qualsiasi (and its synonym qualunque) can only be used with singular nouns. You cannot say dei risultati qualsiasi. To express that dismissive idea in the plural, you would need to use a descriptive adjective like banali (banal/ordinary) or comuni (common).

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