this: ✓ this big/long/tall = grande/lungo/alto così ✗ big/long/tall so, big/long/tall like this

By | November 12, 2017
this big/long/tall = grande/lungo/alto così
big/long/tall so, big/long/tall like this
If I’d known I was going to live this long, I’d have taken better care of myself.
Se avessi saputo che sarei vissuto così a lungo, avrei avuto più cura di me stesso.
– Eubie Blake
✓ The fish that got away was this big.
✗ The fish that got away was *so big/big like this*.
Il pesce che è scappato (che ho quasi preso) era grande così.
In English we often use this + ADJECTIVE (where Italian often uses ADJECTIVE + così) to emphasise a notable physical characteristic (often accompanied by a gesture). Some examples:
✓ He was this tall – I swear!
✗ He was *tall so* – I swear!
Era alto così – giuro!
✓ The water in the kitchen was this deep.
✗ The water in the kitchen was *deep like this*.
L’acqua in cucina era alta così.
✓ The bull was this far from me – I was terrified!
✗ The bull was *far so* from me – I was terrified!
Il toro era distante tanto così da me – ero terrificata!
✓ Her hair was this long!
✗ Her hair was *long like this*!
I suoi capelli erano lunghi così!


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2 thoughts on “this: ✓ this big/long/tall = grande/lungo/alto così ✗ big/long/tall so, big/long/tall like this

  1. John

    Sometimes, we use “that + adj” as well:
    E.g., “Oh, come on! It’s not THAT bad!”

    Both “this” and “that” may be followed by adverbs too:

    “This fast” / “that early” as in:

    “You can’t drive THIS fast!”
    And
    “Can you wake up THAT early?”

    Reply
    1. Colin Post author

      Thank you. Yes, you’re right. The reason I suggest “this” as a correction is because the most common mistake by my Italian-speaking students is when they demonstrate how big, long etc. something is and say “big so” (translating directly from Italian).

      Reply

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