In questions beginning with an interrogative word, the subject is usually placed at the end of the sentence.
' r' {2 Z" I$ w$ I0 b- d* n# M Quando guarda la TV Michele? (When does Michael watch TV?)' ` \1 Q% J( _
Prepositions such as a, di, con, and per always precede the interrogative chi. In Italian, a question never ends with a preposition.
) [6 F0 ?/ K# X3 G/ w0 k5 g! {) L A chi scrivono? (To whom are they writing?)' J1 \1 ]+ T: n s7 T% G1 H
Di chi è questa chiave? (Whose key is this?)2 s7 \' j h) ^' K5 g% B9 ^
Con chi uscite stasera? (Who(m) are you going out with tonight?)9 `/ J" }" a6 e
Che and cosa are abbreviated forms of che cosa. The forms are interchangeable.6 a/ W9 ]8 j* K0 _/ N; d) Y2 X* @
Che cosa bevi? (What are you drinking?)' Z, |" Z1 }$ r) }* @7 s; s8 q/ J0 e
Che dici? (What are you saying?)$ a! v/ Z" Z4 N9 d& ^ ]! c
Cosa fanno i bambini? (What are the children doing?)1 P1 `6 e$ e h
As with all adjectives, the interrogative adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, except for che, which is invariable.
/ z0 B1 u. e2 v Quali parole ricordi? (Which words do you remember?)) c# N4 ], A& D& | j
Che libri leggi? (What books do you read?)8 t& w6 R; Y/ G: A# Y! n1 ?3 z6 h: W. v
Quante ragazze vengono? (How many girls are coming?)* d: O3 P/ Q& V+ L
Che cos’è...? (Che cosa è, cos’è) expresses English What is...? in a request for a definition or an explanation.( `5 W% G3 L% a8 z7 P4 y9 E
Che cos’è la semiotica? (What is semiotics?)
4 q$ A3 X% ]/ j1 N7 ?2 Q8 t Qual è expresses What is...? when the answer involves a choice, or when one requests information such as a name, telephone number, or address.
) h4 b' H$ v0 _# k Qual è la tua materia preferita? (What’s your favorite subject?)
4 w: ?; G/ f( L D Qual è il numero di Roberto? (What is Roberto’s number?)
# }2 p* l4 \' {* o. _5 m# Q2 ?; P Interrogative Pronouns |