Henceforth, language studies were no longer directed merely towards correcting grammar.

ferdinand de saussure

Let’s tell it like it is… Grammar is not really a popular subject, is it?

Over the years grammar has had a central role in language learning. Even too much, I would say. However, lately things have changed and are still changing.

Right now, the predominant aspect is communication.

Let me explain with a practical example. Even in official language examinations – especially in a European context – the most serious mistakes that can be made are those that prevent a successful communicative exchange. At the same time, therefore, grammatical errors lost their seriousness.

Nevertheless, the fact that grammar no longer plays such a central role in the learning process doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t learn it. It just means that we can ‘relax’ a little more.

We can be more daring with the language we want to learn and speak. We can and should speak without too much anxiety. Without worrying too much about grammatical accuracy.

By the way, when we speak (when we use the new language) and make mistakes, it’s the perfect opportunity to learn and improve faster. Always remember, Sbagliando si impara!

Among the first topics in Italian grammar that often frighten and disorientate learners – especially English speakers – there are the articles.

In this first content, we will focus on Italian determinative articles.

Italian Definite Articles – Singular Ones: IL, LO, L’, LA

Italian definite articles - singular

The Italian definite articles (in the singular) are five: three for masculine nouns and two for feminine nouns.

Let’s have a look at them, one by one.

IL

As you can see in the table above, we use ‘IL‘ before masculine nouns starting with a consonant (or more: e.g. ‘IL PROFESSORE’ = The professor). Easy-peasy.

Let’s see a few examples.

  • ‘Il gatto dei vicini viene sempre a dormire da noi.’ (The neighbour’s cat always comes to sleep over).
  • ‘Adoro il sushi! È il mio cibo preferito.’ (I love sushi! It is my favourite food).
  • ‘Andare a vivere in Italia è il sogno della mia vita.’ (Going to live in Italy is my life’s dream).

LO

Problems could start here. But don’t worry! Even if the list of cases when we need to use ‘LO‘ seems pretty long, there are very few words in Italian starting with ‘ps-‘, ‘pn-‘, ‘x-‘, ‘y-‘, ‘gn’, diphthongs ‘ia-‘, ‘ie-‘, ‘io-‘, ‘iu-‘.

So, basically, what you need to remember – especially if you are at the beginning of your Italian journey – is to use ‘LO’ before words starting with ‘s+consonant-‘ and ‘z-‘.

Agains, let’s see a few examples.

  • ‘Marcello è lo studente più bravo della classe.’ (Marcello is the best student in the class).
  • ‘Stasera festeggiamo! Ho portato lo spumante!’ (Tonight we celebrate! I brought some spumante!).
  • ‘Gianni è lo zio di mia moglie.’ (Gianni is my wife’s uncle).
  • ‘È questo lo zaino nuovo che hai comprato?’ (Is this the new backpack you bought?).
  • ‘Fare lo psicologo non è semplice, non trovi?’ (Being a psychologist is not easy, is it?).

L’

We use ‘elle apostrofo‘ before words beginning with a vowel, whether they are masculine or feminine.

In this case the apostrophe indicates that there was a vowel after the ‘L’, a vowel we drop when the following word begins with another vowel.

Masculine L‘

Take ‘l’amico’ as an example. Think of it this way: originally it was LO AMICO. To avoid the hiatus ‘O-A’ and, thus, to make the speech more fluent, we drop the ‘O’ ➡️​ LO AMICO. The apostrophe is all that remains of the presence of the ‘O’, and serves to link the article and the noun, which are in fact pronounced as if they were a single word. ➡️​ L’AMICO.

Here you are some examples:

  • ‘Per il suo compleanno, ho regalato a Sara l’orologio che desiderava.’ (For her birthday, I gave Sara the watch she wanted).
  • ‘Fuori piove a dirotto, non dimenticare di prendere l’ombrello.’ (It’s pouring outside, don’t forget to take your umbrella).
  • ‘Il dottor Bianchi è l’esperto più autorevole in materia.’ (Dr Bianchi is the most authoritative expert on the subject).
  • ‘Sei libero l’undici?’ (Are you free on the eleventh?).

Feminine L’

The same applies to feminine words beginning with a vowel.

LA AMICA ➡️​ LA AMICA ➡️​ L’AMICA

  • ‘Ieri siamo andati in spiaggia a vedere l’alba.’ (Yesterday we went to the beach to watch the sunrise).
  • ‘Ricordati di comprare l’insalata.’ (Remember to buy salad).
  • ‘Non c’è storia, la mia è l’estetista più brava di tutte.’ (No way, mine is the best beautician of all).

LA

Last but not least, ‘LA‘ is used before feminine nouns starting with consonant(s) or diphthongs ‘ia-, ‘ie-‘, ‘io-‘, ‘iu-‘.

As for ‘LO’, for now we do not need to worry about nouns starting with these diphthongs, since there are not many Italian words starting with them.

  • ‘Adoro la pasta!’ (I love pasta!).
  • ‘Prima dell’euro, la moneta italiana era la lira.’ (Before the euro, the Italian currency was the lira).
  • ‘Lei è la professoressa di inglese.’ (She’s the English teacher).
  • ‘La Iugoslavia era il paese d’origine di mio nonno.’ (Yugoslavia was my grandfather’s native country).

Italian Definite Articles – Plural Ones: I, GLI, LE

Italian definite articles - PLURAL

The Italian definite articles (in the plural) are three: two for masculine nouns and just one for feminine nouns.

I and Gli

  • ‘Gianni è il mio migliore amico.’ ➡️​ ‘Gianni e Franco sono i miei migliori amici.’
  • ‘Lo studente migliore è Antonio.’ ➡️​ Gli studenti migliori sono Antonio e Paolo.’
  • ‘Lo zio di Maria è molto simpatico.’ ➡️​ ‘Gli zii di Maria sono molto simpatici.’
  • ‘Sei tu l’esperto in materia.’ ➡️​ ‘Siete voi gli esperti in materia.’

Le

  • ‘Laura è la mia migliore amica.’ ➡️​ ‘Laura e Marta sono le mie migliori amiche.’
  • ‘Sei l’amica migliore del mondo!’ ➡️​ ‘Siete le amiche migliori del mondo!’

Let’s Practice!

Here you are some useful resources to do some practice with Italian Definite Articles:

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