Opposite adjectives: Italian grammar lesson 68

In this post, we’re going to focus on opposite adjectives that can be formed by just adding a letter, two, or even three in front of the adjective that means the exact opposite.

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Summary

This article delves into the use of opposite adjectives in the Italian language, providing readers with a step-by-step guide on how to form opposite adjectives. It covers adjectives starting with in-, dis-, s-, and a-, and gives various examples of opposite adjectives in different contexts.

By the end of the article, readers will have a comprehensive understanding of how to use opposite adjectives effectively in their Italian communication, whether they are beginners or advanced learners. The article's coverage is structured and informative, making it a useful resource for anyone seeking to enhance their Italian language skills.

Opposite adjectives

Learning a foreign language is great! It can also be fun, rewarding, and exciting.

Some other times you might think it’s exhausting, challenging, and overwhelming.

The words used above are adjectives. We use them to describe a person, a thing, an idea, a place, an animal, etc.

Just think of the words happy and unhappy or believable and unbelievable.

If you try to think of other adjectives in English that behave like this, you’ll probably find lots.

Let’s get started!

How to form opposite adjectives

The opposite adjectives are formed using prefixes. Here’s a list of the most common ones  in Italian:

  • in-
  • dis-
  • s-
  • a-

And here are the most used groups of opposite adjectives where the negative meaning comes from the prefixes mentioned above.

Ideally, you should take notes about the new adjectives, write them down, and practice, repeat, and review them. This will help you memorize and remember them.

Opposite adjectives Italian

Adjectives starting with in-

The prefix in- is the most common one.

capace/incapace

capable/incapable

certo/incerto

certain/uncertain

credibile/incredibile

credible/incredible

felice/infelice

happy/unhappy

utile/inutile

useful/useless

Negative adjectives Italian

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The “n” in in- becomes an m when the adjectives start with a “p” or an “m”. This means the prefix becomes im-.

mobile/immobile

mobile/immobile

morale/immorale

moral/immoral

possibile/impossibile

possible/impossible

preparato/impreparato

prepared/unprepared

How to form negative adjectives Italian

Adjectives starting with dis-

abitato/disabitato

inhabited/uninhabited

attento/disattento

attentive/inattentive

onesto/disonesto

honest/dishonest

informato/disinformato

informed/uninformed

ordinato/disordinato

tidy/untidy

Prefixes adjectives Italian

Adjectives starting with s-

The prefix s- is not very common but here are some examples:

carico/scarico

charged/out of battery or power

cortese/scortese

kind/unkind

gradevole/sgradevole

pleasant/unpleasant

contento/scontento

pleased/displeased

Italian opposite adjectives prefixes

Adjectives starting with a-

The prefix a- is the least common, so we’ll just give you three groups of adjectives:

normale/anormale

normal/abnormal

sociale/asocial

sociable/unsociable

tipico/atipico

typical/atypical

Italian prefixes and opposite adjectives

Practice with Quizlet

Here's a set of flashcards and quizzes to practice this grammar topic.

Opposite adjectives: examples

Since we’ve already given you many new words, we’ll just give you a few more examples.

Questo posto è incredibile!

This place is incredible!

Mi sento un po’ inutile perché non sto facendo niente.

I feel a bit useless because I’m not doing anything.

Mattia è davvero disordinato ed è pure disonesto.

Mattia is really untidy and he’s even dishonest.

Il mio cellulare è scarico.

My mobile phone is out of battery.

Quella persona è un po’ sgradevole.

That person is unpleasant.

Mia sorella è un po’ asociale.

My sister is a bit unsociable.

Opposite adjectives in Italian

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FAQs on Opposite adjectives: Italian grammar lesson 68

How to form opposite adjectives?

Adding the following prefixes to the adjective: -in, -im, -dis, -s, -a. They have the negative meaning of the adjective they are modifying.

Stefano

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2 Responses

  1. In Opposite adjectives: Italian grammar lesson 68, the quizlet requests the answer to the flashcard be in SPANISH! (not Italian!) When i type, the answer is correct tho. Just FYI

    1. Ciao Denni!

      You’re right: this Quizlet is in Spanish for some reason.

      We will take care of it and here you can find a Quizlet in English about the same topic.

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