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Articles in Italian

In Italian, as in English, there are definite articles (articoli determinativi) and indefinite articles (articoli indeterminativi). There is also a third type of articles called partitive articles (articoli partitivi).

All articles agree in gender and number with the substantive they refer to.

Note: In Italian there are only two genders: the masculine and the feminine. For more information see the lesson: “The nouns”.

DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article is used to introduce nouns which refer to specific items.

Lo (plural: Gli) = Definite article, masculine, singular used before nouns beginning with “s” + another consonant or beginning with “z”, “gn”, “ps”, “pn”, “x” or “y” / “i” + vowel.

Il (plural: I) = Definite article, masculine, singular used before words beginning with consonant when “lo” is not required.

La (plural: Le) = Definite article, feminine, singular used before nouns beginning with all consonants.

L’ (plural: Gli / Le) = Definite article, masculine / feminine, singular with nouns beginning with vowel.

 

Examples:

Lo zaino, lo gnomo, lo psicologo, lo yogurt, lo iodio, gli scolari, gli spazzoloni, gli zoccoli, gli

ioni.

Il tavolo, il bicchiere, il cucchiaio, i salami, i tovaglioli, i fiori.

La casa, la tazza, la zia, la macchina, le rose, le mele, le nuvole.

L’orologio, l’automobile, l’occhio, l’ape, gli orologi, le automobili, gli occhi, le api.

WHEN TO USE THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

a) With titles when referring to the person in question but not when addressing them directly;

Examples:

Il professor Russo è molto bravo

Buongiorno, professor Russo

b) When referring to languages although the article is optional with the verb “parlare” (to speak);

Example:

Io studio l’italiano

Michel parla (il) francese

c) Before names of continents, countries, regions, lakes, large islands, rivers and mountains. When it is used the verb “andare + in” (to go to) the article is omitted;

Example:

La Francia è una bella nazione

A giugno andrò in Francia

d) For the time;

Example:

Sono le dieci

E’ l’una

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

The indefinite article is used when we know what type of person or thing the noun refers to but not which individual.

Uno (plural: Degli) = Indefinite article, masculine, singular used before nouns beginning with “s” + another consonant or beginning with “z”, “gn”, “ps”, “pn”, “x” or “y” / “i” + vowel.

Un (plural: Dei / Degli) = Indefinite article, masculine, singular used before words beginning with consonant or vowel, when “uno” is not required.

Una (plural: Delle) = Indefinite article, feminine, singular used before nouns beginning with all consonants.

Un’ (plural: Delle) = Indefinite article, feminine, singular with nouns beginning with vowel.

Examples:

Uno zaino, uno gnomo, uno psicologo, uno yogurt, degli scolari, degli spazzoloni, degli

zoccoli, degli ioni.

Un tavolo, un armadio, un cucchiaio, un orologio, dei salami, degli armadi, dei fiori, degli

orologi.

Una casa, una tazza, una zia, una macchina, delle rose, delle mele, delle nuvole.

Un’automobile, un’ape, un’elica, delle automobili, delle api, delle osterie.

PARTITIVE ARTICLE

Partitive articles are used to convey in Italian “some” or “any”. Partitive articles are also used for the plural form of the indefinite articles.

Dello (plural: Degli) = Partitive article, masculine, singular used before nouns beginning with “s” + another consonant or beginning with “z”, “gn”, “ps”, “pn”, “x” or “y” / “i” + vowel.

Del (plural: Dei) = Partitive article, masculine, singular used before words beginning with consonant when “dello” is not required.

La (plural: Le) = Definite article, feminine, singular used before nouns beginning with all consonants.

Dell’ (plural: Degli / Delle) = Partitive article, masculine / feminine, singular with nouns beginning with vowel.

Examples:

Vorrei dello yogurt; Sul tavolo ci sono degli zaini.

Mangio un panino con del salame e del formaggio; Ho incontrato dei clienti.

Mi è entrata della sabbia nelle scarpe; Dal fruttivendolo ci sono delle mele bellissime.

Nel frigo c’è dell’acqua frizzante e dell’aceto balsamico.

by Arnaldo Colonna

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