In questions beginning with an interrogative word, the subject is usually placed at the end of the sentence.
3 o. B {& e7 a8 w% Q2 N) |# y Quando guarda la TV Michele? (When does Michael watch TV?)* A; u2 i8 Z/ g5 N8 R
Prepositions such as a, di, con, and per always precede the interrogative chi. In Italian, a question never ends with a preposition., L) A$ b7 Y, U2 M1 M
A chi scrivono? (To whom are they writing?)3 N7 ^" H8 d+ M+ a
Di chi è questa chiave? (Whose key is this?)4 ` P* _ K, c y N
Con chi uscite stasera? (Who(m) are you going out with tonight?)7 [' ?, z, Q6 m2 I
Che and cosa are abbreviated forms of che cosa. The forms are interchangeable.
% D) s, {: }; _8 j5 v3 g Che cosa bevi? (What are you drinking?)
* B. O$ l0 \( E: r+ i6 l- X Che dici? (What are you saying?)
' Z$ _8 X+ t# L) [( Z Cosa fanno i bambini? (What are the children doing?)) ? n! @/ @9 L, ~
As with all adjectives, the interrogative adjectives agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify, except for che, which is invariable.
& N1 S. F/ @' k: a! [ Quali parole ricordi? (Which words do you remember?). ~" t$ x" {0 N9 z
Che libri leggi? (What books do you read?)
$ f* ^0 Q( k' F" u Quante ragazze vengono? (How many girls are coming?). j7 j F8 b! ?" s5 i
Che cos’è...? (Che cosa è, cos’è) expresses English What is...? in a request for a definition or an explanation.
7 z5 B, }' h# l Che cos’è la semiotica? (What is semiotics?)4 s- W# n/ S7 q1 {$ a. j
Qual è expresses What is...? when the answer involves a choice, or when one requests information such as a name, telephone number, or address.
% o* v% i0 @* x, E; b Qual è la tua materia preferita? (What’s your favorite subject?)+ h7 {* s6 A6 ?9 t' M
Qual è il numero di Roberto? (What is Roberto’s number?)7 x& v/ @% r, \
Interrogative Pronouns |