Mastering “That” in Italian: A Comprehensive Guide

Understanding how to translate and use the word “that” in Italian is crucial for anyone learning the language. “That” can take on various forms and meanings depending on the context, acting as a demonstrative adjective, demonstrative pronoun, relative pronoun, or a conjunction.

This guide will provide a comprehensive overview of all these uses, complete with examples, tables, and practice exercises to help you master this essential aspect of Italian grammar. Whether you’re a beginner or an advanced learner, this article will equip you with the knowledge and skills necessary to use “that” correctly and confidently in Italian.

This article is designed for students of all levels, from beginners grappling with basic sentence structures to advanced learners looking to refine their understanding of Italian grammar nuances. By the end of this guide, you’ll be able to navigate the complexities of “that” in Italian and use it accurately in various contexts.

Table of Contents

• Definition of “That” in Italian
• Structural Breakdown
• Types and Categories of “That” in Italian
  • Demonstrative Adjective
  • Demonstrative Pronoun
  • Relative Pronoun
  • Conjunction
• Examples of “That” in Italian
  • Demonstrative Adjective Examples
  • Demonstrative Pronoun Examples
  • Relative Pronoun Examples
  • Conjunction Examples
• Usage Rules
  • Agreement of Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns
  • Relative Pronoun Rules
  • Conjunction Rules
• Common Mistakes
• Practice Exercises
• Advanced Topics
• FAQ
• Conclusion

Definition of “That” in Italian

The English word “that” can be translated into Italian in several ways, depending on its function in the sentence. It can be a demonstrative adjective, a demonstrative pronoun, a relative pronoun, or a conjunction. Understanding these different roles is crucial for accurate translation and usage.

As a demonstrative adjective, “that” points out a specific noun. In Italian, this is usually translated using “quel,” “quello,” “quella,” “quei,” “quegli,” or “quelle,” which must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.

As a demonstrative pronoun, “that” replaces a noun. The Italian equivalents are similar to the demonstrative adjectives but stand alone and can also be “ciò” or “quello che,” “quella che,” etc., depending on the context and what they refer to.

As a relative pronoun, “that” introduces a relative clause. In Italian, this is usually translated as “che”, which is invariable, or sometimes with more complex structures like “il quale,” “la quale,” “i quali,” “le quali,” which agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

As a conjunction, “that” introduces a subordinate clause. In Italian, this is typically translated as “che.” This is perhaps the simplest and most common usage.

Structural Breakdown

The structure of sentences using “that” in Italian depends heavily on its function. Let’s break down each case:

Demonstrative Adjective: The structure is typically: “Quel/Quello/Quella/Quei/Quegli/Quelle + noun.” The demonstrative adjective precedes the noun and must agree with it in gender and number. For example, “Quel libro” (that book).

Demonstrative Pronoun: The demonstrative pronoun stands alone, replacing the noun. For example, “Voglio quello” (I want that one). The form must still match the implied noun in gender and number.

Relative Pronoun: The structure is: “Noun + che + clause.” For example, “Il libro che ho letto” (The book that I read). “Che” connects the main clause to the relative clause.

Conjunction: The structure is: “Main clause + che + subordinate clause.” For example, “Penso che sia giusto” (I think that it’s right). “Che” introduces the subordinate clause expressing the content of the thought.

Types and Categories of “That” in Italian

Demonstrative Adjective

Demonstrative adjectives point out specific nouns. In Italian, they include:

• Quel: Used before masculine nouns starting with a consonant (except ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’).
• Quello: Used before masculine nouns starting with ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’.
• Quella: Used before feminine nouns.
• Quei: Plural of “quel,” used before masculine nouns starting with a consonant (except ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’).
• Quegli: Plural of “quello,” used before masculine nouns starting with ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’.
• Quelle: Plural of “quella,” used before feminine nouns.

Demonstrative Pronoun

Demonstrative pronouns replace nouns. The Italian equivalents include:

• Quello: Masculine singular.
• Quella: Feminine singular.
• Quelli: Masculine plural.
• Quelle: Feminine plural.
• Ciò: Refers to something abstract or a general idea (“that” as in “that thing”).

Relative Pronoun

Relative pronouns introduce relative clauses. The primary Italian equivalent is:

• Che: Invariable, meaning it doesn’t change based on gender or number.
• Il quale, la quale, i quali, le quali: Used for clarity or emphasis, and they agree in gender and number with the noun they refer to.

Conjunction

Conjunctions connect clauses. The Italian equivalent is:

• Che: Introduces a subordinate clause.

Examples of “That” in Italian

Here are several examples demonstrating the different uses of “that” in Italian.

Demonstrative Adjective Examples

The following table illustrates the use of “that” as a demonstrative adjective in Italian. Note how the form changes depending on the gender and the first letter of the noun.

English	Italian
That book	Quel libro
That student (male)	Quello studente
That girl	Quella ragazza
Those books	Quei libri
Those students (male)	Quegli studenti
Those girls	Quelle ragazze
That tree	Quel albero
That house	Quella casa
That school	Quella scuola
That zoo	Quello zoo
That game	Quel gioco
That sport	Quello sport
That idea	Quell’idea
Those trees	Quegli alberi
Those houses	Quelle case
Those schools	Quelle scuole
Those zoos	Quegli zoo
Those games	Quei giochi
Those sports	Quegli sport
Those ideas	Quelle idee
That problem	Quel problema
That system	Quel sistema
That exercise	Quell’esercizio
Those problems	Quei problemi
Those systems	Quei sistemi
Those exercises	Quegli esercizi

Demonstrative Pronoun Examples

The following table illustrates the use of “that” as a demonstrative pronoun in Italian.

English	Italian
I want that (one).	Voglio quello.
She prefers that (one).	Lei preferisce quella.
Give me those (ones).	Dammi quelli.
I saw those (ones).	Ho visto quelle.
That is important.	Ciò è importante.
What is that?	Che cos’è quello?
That’s what I said.	Questo è ciò che ho detto.
I like that.	Mi piace quello.
Is that yours?	È tuo quello?
Take that.	Prendi quello.
That’s enough.	Questo è sufficiente.
I don’t want that.	Non voglio quello.
That’s right!	Esatto!
That’s true.	È vero.
That seems fair.	Quello sembra giusto.
That’s interesting.	Quello è interessante.
That’s a good idea.	Quella è una buona idea.
That’s my car.	Quella è la mia macchina.
That’s his book.	Quello è il suo libro.
Is that her house?	È quella la sua casa?
That is not correct.	Quello non è corretto.
I believe that.	Lo credo.
Do you understand that?	Lo capisci?

Relative Pronoun Examples

The following table illustrates the use of “that” as a relative pronoun in Italian.

English	Italian
The book that I read	Il libro che ho letto
The woman that I saw	La donna che ho visto
The man that helped me	L’uomo che mi ha aiutato
The house that we bought	La casa che abbiamo comprato
The movie that I liked	Il film che mi è piaciuto
The friend that I met	L’amico che ho incontrato
The song that she sang	La canzone che ha cantato
The car that he drives	La macchina che guida
The job that I want	Il lavoro che voglio
The city that I love	La città che amo
The food that we ate	Il cibo che abbiamo mangiato
The wine that he drank	Il vino che ha bevuto
The place that we visited	Il posto che abbiamo visitato
The problem that we solved	Il problema che abbiamo risolto
The question that I asked	La domanda che ho fatto
The answer that he gave	La risposta che ha dato
The lesson that we learned	La lezione che abbiamo imparato
The mistake that I made	L’errore che ho fatto
The opportunity that I missed	L’opportunità che ho perso
The dream that I had	Il sogno che ho fatto
The present that she received	Il regalo che ha ricevuto
The idea that he proposed	L’idea che ha proposto
The plan that we made	Il piano che abbiamo fatto

Conjunction Examples

The following table illustrates the use of “that” as a conjunction in Italian.

English	Italian
I think that it’s right.	Penso che sia giusto.
She said that she was tired.	Ha detto che era stanca.
He believes that it’s true.	Crede che sia vero.
We know that it’s difficult.	Sappiamo che è difficile.
They hope that it will work.	Sperano che funzioni.
I understand that you’re busy.	Capisco che sei occupato.
She explained that she was late.	Ha spiegato che era in ritardo.
He confirmed that he will come.	Ha confermato che verrà.
We decided that we will go.	Abbiamo deciso che andremo.
They agreed that it’s a good idea.	Hanno convenuto che è una buona idea.
I suspect that he is lying.	Sospetto che stia mentendo.
She fears that it will rain.	Teme che piova.
He imagines that he is rich.	Immagina di essere ricco.
We doubt that it is possible.	Dubitiamo che sia possibile.
They deny that they were there.	Ngano di essere stati lì.
I admit that I was wrong.	Ammetto di aver sbagliato.
She claims that she is innocent.	Afferma di essere innocente.
He insists that he is right.	Insiste di avere ragione.
We assume that you know.	Supponiamo che tu sappia.
I heard that you were sick.	Ho sentito dire che eri malato.
She knows that you are coming.	Sa che stai arrivando.
He reported that the meeting was cancelled.	Ha riferito che l’incontro è stato annullato.
We announced that we are getting married.	Abbiamo annunciato che ci sposiamo.

Usage Rules

Agreement of Demonstrative Adjectives and Pronouns

Demonstrative adjectives and pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify or replace. This is a fundamental rule in Italian grammar.

For example:

• Quel ragazzo (that boy) – masculine singular
• Quella ragazza (that girl) – feminine singular
• Quei ragazzi (those boys) – masculine plural
• Quelle ragazze (those girls) – feminine plural

When using demonstrative pronouns, be sure to choose the correct form based on the noun it’s replacing:

• Voglio quel libro. Voglio quello. (I want that book. I want that one.)
• Preferisco quella gonna. Preferisco quella. (I prefer that skirt. I prefer that one.)

Relative Pronoun Rules

The relative pronoun “che” is invariable and is used to connect a main clause to a relative clause. It can refer to both people and things.

For example:

• L’uomo che ho visto (The man that I saw)
• La casa che ho comprato (The house that I bought)

The forms “il quale,” “la quale,” “i quali,” “le quali” are used for clarity, emphasis, or when the relative pronoun is preceded by a preposition.

For example:

• La persona alla quale ho parlato (The person to whom I spoke)
• Il libro del quale ti ho parlato (The book about which I told you)

Conjunction Rules

The conjunction “che” introduces a subordinate clause, often following verbs of thinking, saying, believing, etc.

For example:

• Penso che sia giusto (I think that it’s right)
• Ha detto che era stanca (She said that she was tired)

Note that in some cases, the “che” can be omitted in informal speech, but it’s generally better to include it for clarity and correctness.

Common Mistakes

Here are some common mistakes to avoid when using “that” in Italian:

Incorrect	Correct	Explanation
Quel studente	Quello studente	“Studente” starts with “s + consonant,” so “quello” is required.
Quello libro	Quel libro	“Libro” starts with a consonant, so “quel” is required.
Voglio quello gonna	Voglio quella gonna	“Gonna” is feminine, so “quella” is required.
Il libro quale ho letto	Il libro che ho letto	“Che” is generally preferred for simple relative clauses.
Penso è giusto	Penso che sia giusto	“Che” should generally be included after verbs of thinking.
Quel’idea	Quell’idea	“Idea” starts with a vowel, so requires the elided form.
Quello albero	Quel albero	“Albero” starts with a vowel, so requires the elided form.
Quelle libro	Quei libri	“Quelle” is feminine plural; “libro” is masculine singular, it should be plural and masculine.
Che io penso	Quello che penso	This is incorrect use of “che” in this context.

Practice Exercises

Test your understanding with these practice exercises.

Exercise 1: Fill in the blanks with the correct demonstrative adjective (quel, quello, quella, quei, quegli, quelle):

Question	Answer
1. ______ libro è interessante.	Quel
2. ______ studente è molto bravo.	Quello
3. ______ ragazza è simpatica.	Quella
4. ______ libri sono miei.	Quei
5. ______ studenti sono diligenti.	Quegli
6. ______ ragazze sono belle.	Quelle
7. ______ albero è alto.	Quel
8. ______ idea è geniale.	Quell’
9. ______ zaino è pesante.	Quello
10. ______ macchina è veloce.	Quella

Exercise 2: Translate the following sentences into Italian using the correct form of “that” as a demonstrative pronoun:

Question	Answer
1. I want that (one).	Voglio quello.
2. She prefers that (one).	Lei preferisce quella.
3. Give me those (ones).	Dammi quelli.
4. I saw those (ones).	Ho visto quelle.
5. That is important.	Ciò è importante.
6. Is that yours?	È tuo quello?
7. I don’t want that.	Non voglio quello.
8. That’s right!	Esatto! / Giusto!
9. Take that.	Prendi quello.
10. I like that.	Mi piace quello.

Exercise 3: Combine the following sentences using “che” as a relative pronoun:

Question	Answer
1. Ho letto un libro. Il libro è interessante.	Il libro che ho letto è interessante.
2. Ho visto una donna. La donna è simpatica.	La donna che ho visto è simpatica.
3. Ho comprato una casa. La casa è grande.	La casa che ho comprato è grande.
4. Ho incontrato un amico. L’amico è divertente.	L’amico che ho incontrato è divertente.
5. Ho mangiato una pizza. La pizza era deliziosa.	La pizza che ho mangiato era deliziosa.
6. Ho ricevuto un regalo. Il regalo è bello.	Il regalo che ho ricevuto è bello.
7. Ho visto un film. Il film è lungo.	Il film che ho visto è lungo.
8. Ho bevuto un tè. Il tè è caldo.	Il tè che ho bevuto è caldo.
9. Ho ascoltato una canzone. La canzone è nuova.	La canzone che ho ascoltato è nuova.
10. Ho visitato una città. La città è antica.	La città che ho visitato è antica.

Exercise 4: Translate the following sentences into Italian using “che” as a conjunction:

Question	Answer
1. I think that it’s right.	Penso che sia giusto.
2. She said that she was tired.	Ha detto che era stanca.
3. He believes that it’s true.	Crede che sia vero.
4. We know that it’s difficult.	Sappiamo che è difficile.
5. They hope that it will work.	Sperano che funzioni.
6. I heard that you are sick.	Ho sentito dire che sei malato.
7. She knows that you are coming.	Sa che stai arrivando.
8. He reported that the meeting was cancelled.	Ha riferito che l’incontro è stato annullato.
9. We announced that we are getting married.	Abbiamo annunciato che ci sposiamo.
10. I understand that you’re busy.	Capisco che sei occupato.

Advanced Topics

For advanced learners, understanding the nuances of when to use “il quale,” “la quale,” “i quali,” “le quali” instead of “che” is crucial. These forms are often used:

• After prepositions: La persona alla quale ho parlato (The person to whom I spoke).
• For clarity, especially when “che” could refer to multiple nouns: Ho visto il ragazzo con la ragazza, la quale era molto bella (I saw the boy with the girl, who was very beautiful). Using “la quale” clarifies that “beautiful” refers to the girl.
• In formal writing.

Another advanced topic is understanding subjunctive mood triggers with conjunction “che”. Many verbs expressing doubt, hope, fear, or opinion often require the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause introduced by “che.” For example, “Dubito che lui venga” (I doubt that he will come).

FAQ

Here are some frequently asked questions about using “that” in Italian:

1. When should I use “quel” vs. “quello”?

   Use “quel” before masculine nouns starting with a consonant (except ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’). Use “quello” before masculine nouns starting with ‘s + consonant’, ‘z’, ‘x’, ‘gn’, ‘ps’, ‘pn’, or ‘y’.

2. Can I always use “che” as a relative pronoun?

   In most cases, yes. However, for clarity, emphasis, or after prepositions, it’s better to use “il quale,” “la quale,” “i quali,” “le quali.”

3. Is it okay to omit “che” as a conjunction in spoken Italian?

   Sometimes, in informal speech, it’s omitted, but it’s generally better to include it for clarity and correctness, especially in formal contexts.

4. How do I know when to use the subjunctive mood after “che”?

   Verbs expressing doubt, possibility, desire, emotion, or impersonal expressions often trigger the subjunctive mood in the subordinate clause introduced by “che.” For example, “Dubito che lui venga” (I doubt that he will come).

5. What is the difference between “questo” and “quello”?

   “Questo” means “this” and refers to something near the speaker, while “quello” means “that” and refers to something farther away or previously mentioned.

6. How do I translate “that’s why” in Italian?

   You can translate “that’s why” as “ecco perché” or “per questo.” For example, “I’m tired; that’s why I’m going to bed” translates to “Sono stanco, ecco perché vado a letto.”

7. Can “ciò” be used in all contexts where “that” refers to a general idea?

   While “ciò” is often used for general ideas, it’s not always interchangeable. It’s best used when referring to something previously mentioned or understood. Sometimes “questo” or “quella cosa” might be more appropriate depending on the context.

8. Are there regional variations in how “that” is used in Italian?

   While the fundamental grammar rules remain the same, there might be slight regional preferences in word choice or phrasing. For example, certain regions might favor “il quale” more frequently than others. However, using the standard forms will always be understood.

Conclusion

Mastering the different uses of “that” in Italian is essential for fluency and accuracy. By understanding its roles as a demonstrative adjective, demonstrative pronoun, relative pronoun, and conjunction, you can express yourself more clearly and confidently.

Remember to pay attention to agreement rules, choose the appropriate form based on the context, and practice regularly to solidify your understanding.

Continue practicing with various exercises and real-life conversations to reinforce your knowledge. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes – they are a natural part of the learning process.

With consistent effort and attention to detail, you’ll soon be using “that” in Italian like a native speaker. Buon apprendimento!