First Year Grammar Review
Ripasso di grammatica elementare
I. Nomi e l'articolo indeterminativo
A. Regular nouns
In Italian, nouns are either masculine or feminine. Nouns that end in -o are usually masculine (circolo). Nouns that end in -a are usually feminine (paninoteca). Nouns that end in -e can be either masculine or feminine (costume m., televisione f.). The gender of nouns ending in -e must be memorized, but certain general rules do apply.
1. Nouns that end in -ore are usually masculine.
l'attore, lo scrittore, il videoregistratore
2. Nouns that end in -trice are mostly feminine.
l'attrice, la scrittrice, la pittrice
3. Nouns that end in -ione are usually feminine as well.
la tradizione, la suggestione, l'informazione
B. Irregular nouns
1. Some nouns that end in -o are feminine and some that end in -a are masculine. Typically, these words are shortened versions of their original forms, such as motocicletta
moto.
la radio, l'auto, la foto, il cinema
2. Italian nouns that end in consonants are all of foreign origin. Most are masculine.
l'autobus, il bar, lo sport, il film
3. Nouns that end in -à are usually feminine, like città and università. Nouns that end in -è are usually masculine, such as caffè. Nouns that end in -ù are usually feminine, such as virtù.
C. The indefinite article
The indefinite article means a or an. It has four forms. The appropriate form depends on the gender of the word it modifies and the first letter(s) of the word that follows the article.
Un is used with masculine nouns that begin with a vowel or with most consonants.
Uno is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, or z.
Una is used with feminine nouns that begin with a consonant.
Un' is used with feminine nouns that begin with a vowel.
D. Plural nouns
1. The plural of a noun is usually formed by changing its ending.
Note that both masculine and feminine nouns that end in -e form their plurals with -i.
2. Nouns that end in -io often form the plural with just one -i.
personaggio personaggi
3. To preserve the hard sound of the c or g, nouns ending in -co and -go acquire an h in the plural.
banco banchi
Note: Exceptions include amico amici, greco
greci, nemico nemici,
and words whose emphasis falls on the third-to-last syllable: medico
medici, tecnico
tecnici.
4. Words that end in -ca and -ga require an h in the plural for the same reason:
amica amiche, elettronica elettroniche.
5. The following nouns, all shortened forms of longer nouns, do not change their endings in the plural.
II. L'articolo determinativo
The definite article corresponds to the in English. The definite article refers to specific things or people, in contrast to the indefinite article, which refers to any member of the category designated by the noun. The form of the definite article is determined by the gender and number of the noun it modifies and the first letter(s) of the word that follows the article.
A. Singular forms
Il is used with masculine nouns that begin with most consonants.
Lo is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, or z.
La is used with feminine nouns that begin with a consonant.
L' is used with masculine and feminine nouns that begin with a vowel.
B. Plural forms
I is used with masculine nouns that begin with most consonants.
Gli is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, z, or a vowel.
Le is used with all feminine nouns.
I. Nomi e l'articolo indeterminativo
A. Regular nouns
In Italian, nouns are either masculine or feminine. Nouns that end in -o are usually masculine (circolo). Nouns that end in -a are usually feminine (paninoteca). Nouns that end in -e can be either masculine or feminine (costume m., televisione f.). The gender of nouns ending in -e must be memorized, but certain general rules do apply.
1. Nouns that end in -ore are usually masculine.
l'attore, lo scrittore, il videoregistratore
2. Nouns that end in -trice are mostly feminine.
l'attrice, la scrittrice, la pittrice
3. Nouns that end in -ione are usually feminine as well.
la tradizione, la suggestione, l'informazione
B. Irregular nouns
1. Some nouns that end in -o are feminine and some that end in -a are masculine. Typically, these words are shortened versions of their original forms, such as motocicletta
moto. la radio, l'auto, la foto, il cinema
2. Italian nouns that end in consonants are all of foreign origin. Most are masculine.
l'autobus, il bar, lo sport, il film
3. Nouns that end in -à are usually feminine, like città and università. Nouns that end in -è are usually masculine, such as caffè. Nouns that end in -ù are usually feminine, such as virtù.
C. The indefinite article
The indefinite article means a or an. It has four forms. The appropriate form depends on the gender of the word it modifies and the first letter(s) of the word that follows the article.
Un is used with masculine nouns that begin with a vowel or with most consonants.
Uno is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, or z.
Una is used with feminine nouns that begin with a consonant.
Un' is used with feminine nouns that begin with a vowel.
| Singular indefinite articles | |
| Masculine | Feminine |
| un diario | una lingua |
| un oggetto | un'italiana |
| uno scambio | |
D. Plural nouns
1. The plural of a noun is usually formed by changing its ending.
| Singular ending | Plural ending | ||
| -o | campo | -i | campi |
| -a | mela | -e | mele |
| -e | trasmissione, f. | -i | trasmissioni |
Note that both masculine and feminine nouns that end in -e form their plurals with -i.
2. Nouns that end in -io often form the plural with just one -i.
personaggio
personaggi 3. To preserve the hard sound of the c or g, nouns ending in -co and -go acquire an h in the plural.
banco
banchi Note: Exceptions include amico
amici, greco
greci, nemico nemici,
and words whose emphasis falls on the third-to-last syllable: medico
medici, tecnico
tecnici.
4. Words that end in -ca and -ga require an h in the plural for the same reason:
amica
amiche, elettronica elettroniche.| Singular ending | Plural ending | ||
| -io | desiderio | -i | desideri |
| -co | parco | -chi | parchi |
| -go | svago | -ghi | svaghi |
| -ca | amica | -che | amiche |
| -ga | targa | -ghe | targhe |
5. The following nouns, all shortened forms of longer nouns, do not change their endings in the plural.
| un cinema | due cinema |
| una radio | due radio |
| una moto | due moto |
| un'auto | due auto |
| una bici | due bici |
II. L'articolo determinativo
The definite article corresponds to the in English. The definite article refers to specific things or people, in contrast to the indefinite article, which refers to any member of the category designated by the noun. The form of the definite article is determined by the gender and number of the noun it modifies and the first letter(s) of the word that follows the article.
A. Singular forms
Il is used with masculine nouns that begin with most consonants.
Lo is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, or z.
La is used with feminine nouns that begin with a consonant.
L' is used with masculine and feminine nouns that begin with a vowel.
Singular
definite articles
| |
| Masculine | Feminine |
| il consumismo | la musica |
| lo stile | l'influenza |
| l'orario | |
B. Plural forms
I is used with masculine nouns that begin with most consonants.
Gli is used with masculine nouns that begin with s + consonant, gn, ps, z, or a vowel.
Le is used with all feminine nouns.
Plural
definite articles
| |
| Masculine | Feminine |
| i termini | le pizzerie |
| gli avvenimenti | le immagini |
| gli uffici | |
