Episode 14 - Before or After? Part A - The Art of Italian Adjectives

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Episode 14 – Before or After? The Art of Italian Adjectives (Part A)

Podcast: We Learn Italian Step by Step | Impariamo l’italiano piano piano

Why does Italian sometimes say una donna anziana but un lungo cappotto scuro? Why la prossima fermata but una sedia comoda? And what’s the difference between bel film and film bellissimo?

In this first part of our two-episode exploration of Italian adjective placement, we look at the foundational rules—the ones that help everything else make sense. With plenty of examples, guided practice, and a few theatrical detours from Antonio (including a cameo from Dante himself…), you’ll learn:

✨ The default pattern: why most Italian adjectives naturally come after the noun
✨ The four groups that typically move before the noun: identity, quantity, order, and structure
✨ Past participles as adjectives and how they behave
✨ When Italian shifts word order for expressive effect (and why we’re saving the big explanations for Part B)
🎧 Guided Story Practice: You’ll listen to Le Pagine del Passato – Chapter 2, Part 2 at slow speed, filling in noun-adjective combinations as the story unfolds
🎭 Bonus banter: Antonio shares a “memory” of giving Dante advice in the selva oscura—whether you believe him is another story…

At the end of the episode, you’ll hear the story again at natural speed and review the key phrases you identified.

Next episode (Part B): We’ll dive into adjectives that change meaning depending on their position—yes, including that famous pair bel film vs. film bellissimo.

Take it slow, enjoy the patterns, and let the rhythm of Italian guide you—piano piano.

⏳ CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction
03:28 The Default Rule
06:36 Practice 1 – The Default Rule
08:19 Practice 2 – Examples from the Story
10:32 Adjectives that Come BEFORE the Noun
11:55 Practice 3 – Adjectives Before the Noun
16:20 Recap
19:19 Practice 4 – Before or After?
21:36 Le Pagine del Passato – Chapter 2 Part 2
25:37 Review Answers – Story Interaction Exercise
28:34 Replay Chapter 2 Part 2 – Normal Speed
31:22 Wrap-up

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فصول

1. Introduction (00:00:00)

2. The Default Rule (00:03:28)

3. Practice 1 – The Default Rule (00:06:36)

4. Practice 2 – Examples from the story (00:08:19)

5. Adjectives that come BEFORE the noun (00:10:32)

6. Practice 3 – Adjectives Before the noun (00:11:55)

7. Recap (00:16:20)

8. Practice 4 - Before or After? (00:19:19)

9. Le Pagine del Passato - Chapter 2 Part 2 (00:21:36)

10. Review Answers - Story Interaction Exercise (00:25:37)

11. Replay Chapter 2 Part 2 - Normal Speed (00:28:34)

12. Wrap-up (00:31:22)