A2 · The articles
The partitive article
It is your some — except that qualche is singular.
For an unspecified quantity Italian uses di plus the article: del pane, della carne, dei libri, delle mele. English has some in that slot and, like Italian, can leave it out: I am buying bread, I am buying some bread.
It is also the plural of the indefinite article. Un libro has no plural; dei libri is it — some books, a few books.
There is a second way that is commoner in everyday speech: un po' di for things you cannot count and alcuni or qualche for things you can. Un po' di pane, alcuni libri, qualche libro.
That last one has no English shape at all. Qualche means several and takes a *singular* noun: qualche libro is a few books, with libro in the singular. There is no way to say a few book in English, so this is one to learn as a fixed oddity rather than to reason about.
Die Form
| some bread | del pane |
| some meat | della carne |
| some books | dei libri |
| some apples | delle mele |
| a bit of sugar | un po’ di zucchero |
| a few books | qualche libro |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
di plus the article for an unspecified quantity.
Compro del pane e della frutta.I am buying bread and fruit.
It is the plural of un.
Ho comprato dei libri usati.I bought some second-hand books.
qualche takes a singular noun.
Ho qualche domanda da farti.I have a few questions for you.
In a negative sentence it disappears.
Non mangio carne.I do not eat meat.
Woran man es erkennt
- del
- della
- dei
- delle
- un po’ di
- qualche
Beispielsätze
Vorrei del formaggio e un po’ di prosciutto.I would like some cheese and a bit of ham.
Ci sono delle lettere per te sul tavolo.There are some letters for you on the table.
Non bevo caffè dopo le sei.I do not drink coffee after six.
Ho ancora qualche minuto prima della riunione.I still have a few minutes before the meeting.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
Qualche means several and still takes the singular: qualche libro is a few books. Qualche libri does not exist. If you want the plural to be visible, use alcuni libri, which means the same thing — and English, where a few is followed by a plural without exception, will pull you the wrong way every time.
qualche thinks of several and writes one.
Jetzt selbst
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