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.1.4.8Absolute superlativesAbsolute superlatives indicate the greatest possible degree of a quality, butwithout any comparison being made.Superlative adjectives are formed in Italianby adding the suffix -issimo to the end of the adjective:un uomo bellissimo `a very handsome man'un organizzazione efficientissima `a very efficient organization'degli importantissimi clienti `some very important clients' 24 MODERN ITALIAN GRAMMARHowever, it is also possible in Italian to use the adverb molto to modify theadjective, in a similar way to the English `very':un uomo molto bello `a very handsome man'un organizzazione molto efficiente `a very efficient organization'dei clienti molto importanti `some very important clients'As seen above, when modified by any adverb (molto, poco, troppo, abbastanza,piuttosto) the adjective generally follows the noun:dei clienti piuttosto importanti `some rather important clients'Notice that, when modified by the superlative suffix -issimo, the endings of theadjectives have the same pattern as adjectives in the first group (ending in -o/-a/-i/-e) (see 1.4.2 above), even if they belong to the second group (-e, -i).So wehave:Adjective in the first group bello/a/i/e bellissimo/a/i/eAdjective in the second group importante/i importantissimo/a/i/eThe common adjectives buono, cattivo, grande, piccolo, mentioned above, alsohave two forms of absolute superlative:buono `good' ottimo/buonissimo `best'cattivo `bad' pessimo/cattivissimo `worst'grande `big' massimo/grandissimo `biggest', `greatest'piccolo `small' minimo/piccolissimo `smallest', `lea st'For the comparative and superlative of adverbs, see Chapter 6.1.5Agreement of noun, article and adjectiveThe great majority of Italian descriptive adjectives have the same pattern ofendings as the nouns (the two patterns are shown above); only a few areinvariable (see 1.2.3).Nouns, adjectives and articles used together in a noungroup must agree in number and gender.For example, if we use a feminine singular noun such as borsa `bag', we haveto use the feminine singular article la and adjective rossa:la borsa rossa `the red bag' STRUCTURES 25If we use a masculine plural noun such as sandali `sandals', we have to use themasculine plural article i and adjective rossi:i sandali rossi `the red sandals'The English articles and adjectives are identical in both examples `the red'while in Italian they have very different forms (la& rossa/i& rossi) depending onthe gender and number of the noun to which they are attached.1.5.1Noun and adjective of same patternWhen noun and adjective belong to the same pattern of endings, the agreement willbe obvious:Sul tavolo c un piatto rotondo.On the table there is a round dish.Ho conosciuto due ragazze italiane.I met two Italian girls.1.5.2Noun and adjective of different patternsIt is more difficult to remember how to make the agreement when the noun andadjective belong to different patterns and therefore have different endings:Sul tavolo c un piatto grande.There is a large dish on the table.Ho conosciuto due ragazze inglesi.I met two English girls.Il programma era noioso.The programme was boring.La radio era rotta.The radio was broken.1.5.3More than one noun (same gender)If an adjective refers to more than one noun of the same gender, it will be pluraland have the same gender as the nouns: 26 MODERN ITALIAN GRAMMARHo comprato un libro e un vocabolario tedeschi.I bought a German book and German dictionary.Ho comprato una grammatica e un agenda tedesche.I bought a German grammar and a German diary.1.5.4More than one noun (different genders)If the two nouns are of different genders then the adjective is generallymasculine plural:Ho comprato un vocabolario e una grammatica tedeschi.I bought a German dictionary and a German grammar.However, if the second of the two nounsthe one nearest to the adjectiveisfeminine plural, the adjective may sometimes agree with it:Ho comprato un vocabolario e due grammatiche tedesche.I bought a German dictionary and two German grammars. 2Verbs2.1General features of verbs2.1.1IntroductionActions, events and situations are expressed by the use of verbs.Italian has acomplex system of different verb forms.In the first section of this chapter weshall introduce the general features of Italian verbs, both regular and irregular,with a brief explanation of basic grammatical terminology which will help you tounderstand these features.In the second section, the different verb forms areillustrated in table form for regular and the most common irregular verbs, andalso for the passive forms of the four regular verb types.Finally, in the thirdsection, we shall look at the different verb moods and tenses individually withbrief explanations of their use.Part B of the book illustrates usage more fully.2.1.2Grammatical subjectUsually the subject of a verb is the `author' or doer of an action, the`protagonist' of an event :Noi partiamo per l America.We leave for America.Franco e Teresa partono per l America.Franco and Teresa leave for America.Sometimes we talk of facts rather than actions.Here the `subject' of the verb isnot doing anything, but is the theme, or main topic, expressed by the verb: 28 MODERN ITALIAN GRAMMARGiulia bionda.Giulia is blonde.Questo film dura due ore.This film lasts two hours.However, the grammatical subject of the verb is not always the `real' subject or`doer' of the acti on.This is the case with passive verbs (see Chapter 19).2.1
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