vicino as an adjective and an adverb

alfie

On page 94 of Essential Italian the use of the word "vicino" is presented. In a sentence it can be used as an adjective or an adverb. As an adverb it is invariable but as an adjective it varies as follows: vicino, vicini, vicina, and vicine. My problem is that I can't always properly classify the word. During my next e-Tutoring session, I will try to get help with this. But perhaps I can get some help before then.

Thank You

Davide

Erin

Hi Davide,

Our eTutor, Natasha has this reply for you:

The trick to find out when “vicino” is used as an ADJECTIVE is to check it is followed by the preposition “a”. If it is then it is an adjective. An example: "Siamo vicini a scuola”  (We're near school). In the example we use "vicini" plural masculine because it refers to us,a group of people where there is at least one male person. 

Vicino as an adverb is never followed by the preposition "a". An Example: "Abitiamo vicino” (we live nearby). We are still the same group of people but there is no need for a variation of the word vicino.

Thanks for the question! Please let us know if that clears things up.

 

 

SFFred

Interesting. The comment from the tutor seems to be different from the explanation on page 94 of the Essential book. According to the book, the first example would be translated as "Siamo vicino alla scuola." -- with "vicino a" being a fixed expression.

And the second example, again according to the book, would be "Abitiamo qui vicino."

Are there more than two ways of treating these issues? I am confused.

RobertaGP

"Vicino a" is a fixed expression as the book explains, but in the first example "vicino" can
also be used as an adjective and, in this case, it takes the gender of
the subject. Therefore, both "Siamo vicino alla scuola" and "siamo
vicini alla scuola" are correct. In the second example, "vicino" is an adverb and only "Abitiamo qui vicino" is correct.

Roberta
Italian e-tutor