bello / buono / grande / santo
Shortened Forms of Bello/buono/grande/santo
In Italian, the adjectives bello, buono, grande, and santo change their endings when they come before a noun. These changes depend on the gender, number, and the first letter of the following word.
How It Works
When these common adjectives are placed before a noun, they often adapt to the sound of that noun. For bello and buono, these changes are mandatory; for grande, the shortened form is common but often optional.
1. Bello (Beautiful/Nice)
Follows the pattern of definite articles:
- Bel / Bei: Before masculine consonants (bel ragazzo, bei libri)
- Bell' / Begli: Before masculine vowels (bell'uomo, begli occhi)
- Bello / Begli: Before masculine s+consonant, z, gn, ps, x (bello zaino, begli zaini)
- Bella / Belle: Before feminine consonants (bella casa, belle case)
- Bell' / Belle: Before feminine vowels (bell'amica, belle amiche)
2. Buono (Good)
Follows the pattern of indefinite articles in the singular:
- Buon: Before masculine consonants and vowels (buongiorno, buon amico)
- Buono: Before masculine s+consonant, z, gn, ps, x (buono studio)
- Buona / Buon': Before feminine consonants (buona sera) and vowels (buon'idea)
- Note: Plurals are regular (buoni/buone).
3. Grande (Big/Great)
Often becomes gran before singular nouns starting with a consonant to add emphasis, though grande is also correct. It usually stays grande before s+consonant or z.
- Un gran successo or Un grande successo
- Un grande sbaglio (A big mistake)
- Note: Plurals are regular (grandi).
4. Santo (Saint/Holy)
Shortens to San before masculine names starting with a consonant, but stays Santo before s+consonant. Use Sant' before vowels (masculine and feminine). Use Santa before feminine consonants.
- San Pietro / Santa Lucia
- Santo Stefano
- Sant'Antonio / Sant'Agata
Examples (5)
- Ho passato un bel pomeriggio con i miei vecchi amici.
I spent a lovely afternoon with my old friends.
Word by Word: I have passed a beautiful afternoon with the my old friends.
'Bello' becomes 'bel' because 'pomeriggio' is masculine singular and starts with a standard consonant.
- È stata una gran fortuna trovare un buon lavoro così in fretta.
It was great luck to find a good job so quickly.
Word by Word: It is been a great luck to find a good job so in hurry.
'Grande' becomes 'gran' for emphasis, and 'buono' becomes 'buon' before the consonant 'l'.
- Sant'Agata è la patrona di Catania.
Saint Agatha is the patron saint of Catania.
Word by Word: Saint Agatha is the patroness of Catania.
'Santo' becomes 'Sant'' because the name 'Agata' starts with a vowel.
- Hai fatto un buon lavoro oggi!
You did a good job today!
Word by Word: You have done a good work today!
'Buon' is used here without an apostrophe because 'lavoro' is masculine.
- Guarda che begli occhi che ha quel bambino.
Look what beautiful eyes that child has.
Word by Word: Look what beautiful eyes that has that child.
'Bello' becomes 'begli' in the plural because 'occhi' starts with a vowel.
Common Mistakes
Using an apostrophe with masculine 'buon'.
Lui è un buon'amico.Lui è un buon amico.Truncation of masculine adjectives (buon, bel, gran) never takes an apostrophe. The apostrophe is only for feminine elision (buon'idea).
Using the full form 'bello' before a standard consonant.
Ho comprato un bello libro.Ho comprato un bel libro.When 'bello' comes before a noun starting with a consonant (except s+cons, z, etc.), it must become 'bel'.
Using 'gran' for plural nouns.
Ci sono gran problemi.Ci sono grandi problemi.While 'gran' is common in the singular, the plural form usually remains 'grandi'.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To learn the shortened forms of these adjectives, you must first understand how Italian articles change based on the following noun's gender and initial letter, as these adjectives mimic those patterns. Additionally, you need to be familiar with adjective placement, as these specific forms only occur when the adjective precedes the noun.
Related Patterns
- Definite Articles
The adjective 'bello' follows the exact same phonological rules as the definite articles (il, lo, l', i, gli).
Level 1 - Truncation
This is the grammatical process of dropping a final vowel or syllable, which applies to 'buon', 'bel', 'gran', and 'San'.
Level 1 - Elision
This is the process of dropping a vowel before another vowel and adding an apostrophe, seen in 'bell'', 'buon'', and 'Sant''.
Level 1 - Adjectives that Change Meaning by Position
Placing 'grande' before a noun (often as 'gran') usually changes its meaning from 'physically big' to 'great/important'.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Sources
Practice bello / buono / grande / santo in Bubblegum
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