Interrogatives in Italian

In Italian, to ask questions we use interrogative pronouns and adjectives. Let’s look at the most common ones: chi, che cosa, quale, and quanto.

🔹CHI? (Who?)

Used to ask about a person’s identity. It is invariable (doesn’t change) and used only for people.

Examples:

• Chi è il tuo insegnante? → Who is your teacher?

• Chi vive in quella casa? → Who lives in that house?

🟡 It can be preceded by a preposition:

• A chi telefoni? → Who are you calling?

• Con chi parli? → Who are you talking to?

🔹CHE COSA?(or CHE?,COSA?) → (What?)

Used to ask about things or actions. It is invariable and used only for things.

Examples:

• Che cosa fai domani? → What are you doing tomorrow?

• Cosa metti nello zaino? → What are you putting in your backpack?

🟡 You can also use just che or cosa:

• Che studi all’università?

• Cosa leggi adesso?

🔹QUALE? / QUALI? (Which one? / Which ones?)

Used to choose or identify among options. It changes in number:

• Singular: quale

• Plural: quali

Examples:

• Quale pizza preferisci? → Which pizza do you prefer?

• Quali canzoni ascolti spesso? → Which songs do you often listen to?

📌 Note: Before the verb essere, write qual è (no apostrophe):

Qual è la tua città preferita? → What is your favorite city?

Can often be replaced by che:

Che film guardi stasera? → What movie are you watching tonight?

🔹QUANTO? / QUANTA? / QUANTI? / QUANTE?

(How much? / How many?)

Used to ask about quantity. It changes in gender and number:

• quanto (masculine singular)

• quanta (feminine singular)

• quanti (masculine plural)

• quante (feminine plural)

It can be an adjective (with a noun) or a pronoun (used alone)

Examples as adjectives:

• Quanto zucchero metti nel caffè? → How much sugar do you put in your coffee?

• Quanta acqua bevi al giorno? → How much water do you drink a day?

• Quanti libri leggi in un mese? → How many books do you read in a month?

• Quante email ricevi ogni giorno? → How many emails do you get each day?

Examples as pronouns

• Quanto costa quel vestito? → How much does that dress cost?

• Quanti ne hai comprati? → How many did you buy?