Breakdown of Quei due non fanno altro che bisticciare.
non
not
quello
that
due
two
fare
to do / to make
altro
other, another
che
than (in comparisons)
bisticciare
to bicker
Questions & Answers about Quei due non fanno altro che bisticciare.
How does the phrase non fare altro che work in this sentence?
Why is it Quei due and not Quelli due?
When a demonstrative adjective precedes a number like due, it follows the same rules as if it were placed before a regular masculine noun starting with a consonant. Therefore, quello becomes quei. We only use the pronoun form quelli if it stands completely alone without a noun or number immediately following it.
Could I replace che with di before the infinitive bisticciare?
No, in this specific construction you must always use che to introduce the infinitive. While di is often used to link conjugated verbs to infinitives in other Italian structures, altro che operates as a fixed comparative phrase here meaning other than or but.
What is the difference between bisticciare and litigare?
While both mean to argue, bisticciare specifically refers to bickering or squabbling over minor, petty things. Litigare is a broader and often more serious term for fighting or having a real argument. The phrase non fanno altro che bisticciare perfectly captures the annoying habit of constant, petty squabbling.
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