Opposite adjectives: Italian grammar lesson 68

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What are 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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In- becomes an im- when the adjectives start with a p or an m.

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

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4 Responses

    1. Ciao Denni!

      We are currently changing the Quizlet quizzes because we felt the exact same way as you. But it will take us a few days until all quizzes are changed.
      Please have a little patience and let us know if you want to do other exercises meanwhile.

  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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