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
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!
Now try the quiz below! There are TEN answers. The pass mark is 90% (9 out of 10). Click on the blue arrows to go to the next or previous question. You can check your answers immediately or when you’ve finished the quiz.
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?”
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).