Questo and Quello

In brief

Use questo for ‘this’ and quello for ‘that’. They point to people or things and change form to match the noun. Before a noun, quello also changes according to the sound at the start of that noun.

Form

this: questo libro, questa casa; plural questi libri, queste case. that: quel libro, quella casa, quell’amico, quello studente; plural quei libri, quelle case, quegli amici or studenti.

Usage

• Put the demonstrative before the noun: questa pizza (‘this pizza’), quel treno (‘that train’).
• Use quello before a masculine singular noun beginning with s plus a consonant, but quel before most other masculine singular consonants.
• Without a noun, these words mean ‘this one’ or ‘that one’ and still agree with the person or thing.

Examples

• Questo libro è interessante. — This book is interesting.
• Quella pizza è buona. — That pizza is good.
• Quel treno parte alle otto. — That train leaves at eight.
• Quello studente è italiano. — That student is Italian.

Common mistake

❌ Quello libro è nuovo.

✅ Quel libro è nuovo.

Before a masculine singular noun starting with an ordinary consonant, use quel, not quello.

Remember

Match the form to the noun: questo/questa for ‘this’, quel/quella for ‘that’ in common singular cases.