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The indefinite adjectives: nessuno and tutto

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  1. Nessuno
  2. Nessuno is an indefinite adjective that means no, none, not any, or not one. Nessuno is used only in the singular. In its adjective form (it can also be an indefinite pronoun), it generally follows the same rules as the indefinite articles.

    Non ha avuto ancora nessuna notizia.
    She hasn’t had any news yet.

    Nessun uomo di buonsenso lo farebbe.
    No man of good sense would do it.

    Non è venuto nessuno studente.
    Not one student came.

    With nouns expressing abstract concepts, nessuno has the function of emphasizing the negation.

    È ancora presto! Non c’è nessuna fretta.
    It is still early! There is no hurry.

    Non c’è nessun bisogno che ti preoccupi.
    There is no need to worry yourself.

    When used in conjunction with another adjective, double negation isn’t necessary.

    Nessun’altra persona mi piace come Giancarlo.
    I don’t like any one else as much as Giancarlo.
    [Lit: No one else pleases me as much as Giancarlo.]

  3. Tutto
  4. Tutto is an indefinite adjective that means all, every, or whole. Tutto is variable, which means that it must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.

    In general, tutto is followed by a definite article when it is used as an adjective.

    Il bimbo ha pianto tutto il giorno.
    The baby cried all day.

    Tutte le famiglie felici si assomigliano.
    All happy families resemble one another. (Anna Karenina by Lev Tolstoy)

    Tutti i gatti sono uguali.
    All cats are the same.

    Tutta la vita è un pellegrinaggio.
    All of life is a pilgrimage.

    Tutto can be followed directly by demonstrative pronouns (questo, quello) and names of cities. With certain geographic locations, it can be used with, or without, the article.

    Tutto questo dev’essere imparato a memoria.
    All this must be memorized.

    Per tutta Roma è stato un avvenimento importante.
    For all of Rome, it was an important event.

    In tutta [l’] Italia non esiste un uomo come lui.
    In all of Italy, there doesn’t exist a man like him.

    When tutto is preceded by the preposition con it means in spite of, despite, or nevertheless.

    Con tutto il nostro aiuto, non riuscirà a cambiare la sua situazione.
    In spite of all our help, he won’t be able to change his situation.

    Con tutti i suoi soldi, il Signor Forni è avarissimo.
    Despite all of this money, Mr. Forni is very cheap.

    Tutto may be used in conjunction with quanto or intero for emphasis.

    Conosceva tutta quanta la gente del paese.
    He knew all of the people of the town.

    Non abbiamo avuto sue notizie per tutto un intero anno.
    We didn’t hear from him for an entire year.

    Tutt’altro(a) means anything but, the opposite, or not at all.

    Sono di tutt’altra opinione.
    I’m of the opposite opinion.

    - Ti dispiace se vengo anch’io?
    - Tutt’altro!
    - Do you mind me coming along?
    - Not at all!

    - Ti sei pentito di aver comprato la casa?
    - Tutt’altro!
    - Do you regret having bought the house?
    - Not at all!

    Tutto is used in an expansive variety of expressions, which are too many to list here. Following is a list of some of the more common ones.

    Si erano attrezzati di tutto punto per l’escursione.
    They had fully equipped themselves for the excursion.

    Le signore erano vestite di tutto punto.
    The ladies were dressed to the nines.

    Mettiamocela tutta!
    Let’s give it our all!

    I ristoranti in questa zona vantano una cucina artigianale di tutto rispetto.
    The restaurants in this area boast of their well-respected homemade cooking.

    In tutta franchezza, cosa pensate?
    In all frankness, what do you think?

    Siamo tutt’orecchi.
    We’re all ears.

    Alessandro è tutto d’un pezzo.
    Alessandro is stubborn/inflexible.

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