5.6. Position of adjectives

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

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.