Italian grammar · Beginner · Lesson 3
Italian Adjective Agreement: Gender and Number
Match Italian adjectives to nouns: bello, bella, belli, belle, and the shared -e pattern in grande and grandi.
Updated October 10, 2026 · Free lesson and exercises
Make the adjective match
An Italian adjective normally agrees with its noun in gender and number. A regular adjective ending in -o has four forms: -o, -a, -i, and -e. The agreement stays the same whether the adjective follows the noun or comes after essere.
Use two forms for many -e adjectives
Adjectives such as grande and interessante use -e for both masculine and feminine singular nouns. Their plural is -i for both genders. Una casa grande and un libro grande therefore have the same adjective ending.
Start with position after the noun
Many descriptive adjectives follow the noun: una macchina rossa. Some common adjectives can come before it, and moving certain adjectives changes meaning. For a first sentence, use an uncomplicated adjective after the noun or after essere. Forms of bello before a noun need additional sound-based changes.
Two common agreement patterns
| Noun type | Bello after essere | Grande |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine singular | bello | grande |
| Feminine singular | bella | grande |
| Masculine plural | belli | grandi |
| Feminine plural | belle | grandi |
These are basic agreement forms. Before a noun, bello can also appear as bel, bei, or begli.
See the pattern in a sentence
La casa è bella.
The house is beautiful.
Bella agrees with feminine singular casa.
I libri sono interessanti.
The books are interesting.
Interessante becomes interessanti in the plural.
Le scarpe sono rosse.
The shoes are red.
Rosse agrees with feminine plural scarpe.
Common mistakes to notice
To fix: La casa è bello.
Use: La casa è bella.
Use the feminine adjective with casa.
To fix: I libri sono interessante.
Use: I libri sono interessanti.
An -e adjective becomes -i with a plural noun.
Try it yourself
Say or write an answer before opening the explanation.
1. Complete: la macchina è ross___.
Show answer and explanation
La macchina è rossa.
Macchina is feminine singular.
2. Make la casa grande plural.
Show answer and explanation
Le case grandi.
Casa and grande both change their final vowel.
3. Describe i libri with nuovo.
Show answer and explanation
I libri sono nuovi.
Nuovo becomes nuovi with masculine plural libri.
Use it in a conversation
Describe your house, shoes, and favorite book. Then describe two houses or two books to practice plural agreement.
Read the examples aloud, then try your own sentences. In ChatPal, practice a real scenario and get personalized feedback on what you say.
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Questions about this pattern
Do Italian adjectives always come after the noun?
No. Many do, but common adjectives can appear before a noun. Position may affect meaning, so learn familiar combinations.
Does grande change for feminine nouns?
Its singular form stays grande for both genders. The plural grandi is also shared.
Why is beautiful sometimes bel instead of bello?
Before a noun, bello follows sound-based patterns similar to definite articles. After essere, the regular agreement forms are easier to learn first.
Keep building your sentences
Words to practice with
References and corrections
Original explanations and practice examples for beginners. References help check the grammar; this page covers the patterns shown rather than every exception.