Definite articles mean “the” There are four different ways to say “the”

in Italian1. la: feminine nouns that start with

a consonant (la ragazza)2. l’: feminine nouns that start with a

vowel (l’anatra)

Definite articles: masculine1. il: masculine noun that starts with a

consonant (il pane, il ragazzo)

2. l’: masculine noun that starts with a vowel (l’amico)

3. lo: masculine noun that starts with z, s+ consonant, gn, y (lo zio, lo sportello, lo gnomo)

Indefinite articles

Indefinite articles mean “a, an” in Italian

1. Una : use before a feminine noun that starts

with a consonant (would have la for article)una mela – an appleuna macchina – a car

2. Un’ : Use before a feminine noun that starts with a vowel (would have l’ for article)

un’anatra – a duck

Indefinite articles: masculine

1. Un: Use before a masculine noun that starts with a consonant OR a vowel ( il, l’ for articles)

un cugino – a cousinun amico – a friend

2. Uno: Use before a masculine noun that starts with z, s+ consonant, gn, y (lo for article)

uno zio – an uncle

Article Comparison Chart

1. la 2. il 3. l’ (m)4. lo5. l’ (f)

1. una2. un3. un4. uno5. un’

Definite article Indefinite article

8

è ___________

9

è ______________

10

è ______________

11

è ______________

12

èè ___________. ___________.èè ___________. ___________.

13

èè__________.__________.èè__________.__________.

14

èè ______________. ______________.èè ______________. ______________.

Complete with the correct indefinite article1. ____ coperto 6. ____

coniglio2. ____ yogurt 7. ____

amico3. ____ tazza 8. ____ ragazzo4. ____ spiaggia 9. ____

penna5. ____ zaino 10. ____zucchero