As we saw above, adjectives generally follow the noun they modify and agree with the noun’s gender and number. E.g.,
uno studente americano = an American student
una ragazza bionda = a blond girl
However some adjectives can precede the noun they modify (while still agreeing with the noun’s gender and number). These are called preposing adjectives. E.g.,
un caro amico = a dear friend
una lunga storia = a long story
Preposing adjectives tend to be short (one or two syllables), and they have the potential to change the meaning or the emphasis of the utterance. E.g.,
un grande uomo = a great man
un uomo grande = a big man
Paolo è un vecchio amico. = Paolo is an old (dear) friend.
Paolo è un amico vecchio. = Paolo is an old friend. (I.e., a friend of mine who is old).
The most common adjectives that can precede a noun are:
grande/ piccolo
giovane/ vecchio
bello/ brutto
buono/ cattivo
The adjective buono
Buono can come before a noun or after a noun. When it comes after a noun, it functions like a regular four-change adjective. E.g.,
La pizza è buona = The pizza is good
Le scarpe sono buone = The shoes are good
When it comes before a noun, it mirrors the indefinite article (Section 5.2):
The forms of buono as a preposing adjective:
The adjective bello
Bello can come before a noun or after a noun. When it comes after a noun, it functions like a regular four-change adjective. E.g.,
È una casa bella. = It’s a beautiful house.
Sono due libri belli. = They are two beautiful books.
When it comes before a noun, it can have seven forms (and these forms mirror the definite article), e.g.,
definite article form of bello
i libri
gli studenti
le idee
dei bei libri
dei begli studenti
delle belle idee
As mentioned above regarding other adjectives that can go before a noun or after a noun, bello’s placement can change the meaning or the emphasis* of the utterance. E.g.,
una casa bella = a beautiful house
una bella casa = a pretty house
un amico bello = a beautiful (handsome) friend
un bell’amico = a great friend (or even ironically, “a lousy friend”)
*Context and/or (vocal) emphasis will often determine how bello is being used.