gran or grande (lessons 3.7 and 4.2)

In lesson 3.8 (Adjectives) we are told that the adjective grande (big) when placed before a noun is shortened to gran and means great. 

For example È un gran cantante  He is a great singer as opposed to È un cantante grande He is a big singer.

But in 4.2 we have a sentence Lui è il grande poeta toscano del milleduecento with the translation He is the great poet of the 1200s. Why not Lui è il gran poeta… ?

Is this correct, or can either be used?

Sorry it's lesson 3.8, the title of this conversation is in error. 

Hello Peter,

Thank you for bringing up this question. Let's address the usage of "grande" and "gran" as adjectives before nouns in Italian.

In general, the adjective "grande" (big) can be shortened to "gran" when it comes before a singular masculine noun that starts with a consonant sound. This is a common contraction in the Italian language.

For example:

• ⇢ È un gran cantante. (He is a great singer.)
• ⇢ È un gran amico. (He is a great friend.)
•  

However, there are exceptions to this rule. In certain fixed expressions or when emphasizing the greatness or importance of something, "grande" can be used in its full form without contraction.

In the sentence "Lui è il grande poeta toscano del milleduecento," "grande" is used in its full form to convey the emphasis on the greatness or importance of the poet. It highlights that he is not just any poet but a significant and renowned figure in Tuscan literature from the 1200s.

So, both "Lui è il grande poeta toscano del milleduecento" and "Lui è il gran poeta toscano del milleduecento" are grammatically correct. However, the choice between using "grande" or "gran" depends on the desired emphasis or style of the sentence.

I apologize for the confusion in the lesson numbering, and I appreciate your clarification. If you have any more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask. Keep up the good work!

Resurrecting this thread, I'm confused why lesson 1.10 ("avere") includes the example sentence, “Lei ha un grande sorriso,” translated, “You have a big smile.”  Shouldn't this be, “You have a great smile”?

You're right to notice that subtle difference!

In Italian, "grande" can mean both "big" and "great," depending on context. In this sentence, “Lei ha un grande sorriso,” it can be understood as either "You have a big smile" or "You have a great smile." The translation provided may be choosing "big" more literally, but "great" would work just as well, as "grande" can imply something impressive or notable.

In daily conversation, you'd hear both interpretations depending on the nuance the speaker intends.