Definite and Indefinite articles Articuli
indeterminativo ed determinativo
Articles are words that precede the substantive
(a noun).
Definite article: used to indicate that a thing is unique in some way.
Indefinite article: used to indicate that a thing is not identified as
unique.
In Italian the article must agree in gender and number
with the noun, which means that the definite article la,
for example, should precede a singular and feminine. Study the
chart below:
|
Articles |
Definite
-
THE |
Indefinite
-
A / AN |
|
Singular |
Plural |
Singular (there is not
a formal plural) |
|
Masculine
(maschile) |
IL
/ L' / LO |
I / GLI |
UN /
UNO |
|
Feminine
(femminile) |
LA
/ L' |
LE |
UNA
/
UN' |
L - before a vowel
Lo- before words starting with: s + another consonant (ie: st; sb)
or z
Gli- before a vowel or words starting with: s + another consonant (ie:
st; sb) or z
Un' - before a vowel (only to feminine words)
Uno
- before words starting with: s + another consonant
(ie: st; sb) or z
Una - before a consonante
Study the
examples below:
|
Definite article - masculine |
|
-
Il libro The book
-
L'amico
The friend (the male friend)
-
Lo
spettacolo
The
spectacle
-
Lo
zio - The uncle
-
I libri
The
books
-
Gli amici
The friends
-
Gli
spettacoli - The spectacles
-
Gli
zoccoli - The claws
|
Indefinite article - masculine |
|
|
Definite article -
feminine |
|
|
Indefinite article -
feminine |
|
|
