Italian definite articles exercises

A free A1 (beginner) Italian exercise on Articoli determinativi (definite articles): 60 multiple choice questions in 4 sets, from core practice to a mixed review, each with the answer and a short explanation. Or take a random round of 10. No account needed.

The rule in brief

Italian has seven forms of "the". The choice depends on the gender and number of the noun, and on the sound the next word begins with.

Masculine singular nouns take il before most consonants (il libro), lo before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, x and y (lo zaino, lo studente), and l’ before a vowel (l’amico). Feminine singular nouns take la before a consonant (la casa) and l’ before a vowel (l’amica).

In the plural, il becomes i (i libri), while lo and l’ become gli (gli zaini, gli amici). Every feminine plural takes le (le case, le amiche). The article agrees with the word that immediately follows it, so look at the first sound, not just the gender.

	Singular	Plural
Masculine, most consonants	il	i
Masculine, s + consonant, z, gn, ps, x, y	lo	gli
Masculine, vowel	l’	gli
Feminine, consonant	la	le
Feminine, vowel	l’	le

il treno, lo sport, l’albergo · the train, the sport, the hotel
i treni, gli sport, gli alberghi · the trains, the sports, the hotels
la stazione, l’isola, le isole · the station, the island, the islands

Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets

Choose the correct definite article (il, lo, la, l’, i, gli, le) for each sentence.

Set 1 · Core practice

1
zaino è sotto il tavolo.
The backpack is under the table.
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Lo · Zaino is masculine singular and starts with z, so it takes lo.
2
amica di Marco abita a Torino.
Marco’s friend lives in Turin.
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L’ · Amica is feminine singular and starts with a vowel, so la shortens to l’.
3
Dove sono chiavi?
Where are the keys?
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le · Chiavi is the plural of la chiave (feminine), and every feminine plural takes le.
4
studenti arrivano alle nove.
The students arrive at nine.
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Gli · Lo studente becomes gli studenti in the plural: s + consonant needs gli, not i.
5
Mi passi sale, per favore?
Could you pass me the salt, please?
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il · Sale is masculine singular and starts with a single consonant, so it takes il.
6
psicologo riceve il martedì.
The psychologist sees patients on Tuesdays.
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Lo · Masculine nouns starting with ps take lo: lo psicologo.
7
Ho dimenticato ombrello in ufficio.
I left the umbrella at the office.
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l’ · Ombrello is masculine singular and starts with a vowel, so it takes l’.
8
libri sono sulla sedia.
The books are on the chair.
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I · Il libro becomes i libri: masculine plural before an ordinary consonant takes i.
9
gnocchi della nonna sono buonissimi.
Grandma’s gnocchi are delicious.
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Gli · Words starting with gn take lo in the singular and gli in the plural: gli gnocchi.
10
Apri finestra, fa caldo.
Open the window, it’s hot.
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la · Finestra is feminine singular and starts with a consonant, so it takes la.
11
orari del museo sono cambiati.
The museum’s opening hours have changed.
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Gli · L’orario is masculine; before a vowel the masculine plural article is gli.
12
Compro uova al mercato.
I buy the eggs at the market.
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le · L’uovo is masculine, but its plural uova is feminine, so it takes le.
13
zucchero è finito.
The sugar has run out.
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Lo · Zucchero is masculine singular and starts with z, so it takes lo.
14
Conosci insegnante nuova?
Do you know the new (female) teacher?
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l’ · Insegnante starts with a vowel, so the article is l’ for both genders; nuova shows it is feminine.
15
yogurt è nel frigorifero.
The yogurt is in the fridge.
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Lo · Masculine nouns starting with y take lo: lo yogurt.

15 questions.

Set 2 · More practice

16
treno per Roma parte alle otto.
The train to Rome leaves at eight.
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Il · Treno is masculine singular and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes il.
17
Scusi, dov’è stazione?
Excuse me, where is the station?
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la · Stazione is feminine singular and starts with a consonant, so it takes la.
18
albergo è vicino al mare.
The hotel is near the sea.
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L’ · Albergo is masculine singular and starts with a vowel, so it takes l’.
19
ragazze giocano a tennis nel parco.
The girls are playing tennis in the park.
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Le · Ragazze is feminine plural, and every feminine plural takes le.
20
Mio padre legge giornale ogni mattina.
My father reads the newspaper every morning.
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il · Giornale is masculine singular and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes il.
21
zii di Anna abitano a Bari.
Anna’s aunt and uncle live in Bari.
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Gli · Lo zio becomes gli zii in the plural: words starting with z take gli, not i.
22
Dove metto specchio nuovo?
Where shall I put the new mirror?
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lo · Specchio is masculine singular and starts with s + consonant, so it takes lo.
23
acqua del mare è ancora fredda.
The sea water is still cold.
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L’ · Acqua is feminine singular and starts with a vowel, so la shortens to l’.
24
Chiudi porta, per favore.
Close the door, please.
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la · Porta is feminine singular and starts with a consonant, so it takes la.
25
bambini dormono già.
The children are already asleep.
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I · Il bambino becomes i bambini: masculine plural before an ordinary consonant takes i.
26
isole italiane sono bellissime d’estate.
The Italian islands are beautiful in summer.
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Le · Isole is feminine plural, so it takes le even though it starts with a vowel. Gli is only for masculine plurals.
27
aereo per Parigi parte in ritardo.
The plane to Paris is leaving late.
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L’ · Aereo is masculine singular and starts with a vowel, so it takes l’.
28
A Giorgio piace molto sport.
Giorgio really likes sport.
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lo · Sport is masculine singular and starts with s + consonant, so it takes lo.
29
alberi del giardino sono altissimi.
The trees in the garden are very tall.
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Gli · L’albero is masculine; before a vowel the masculine plural article is gli.
30
Dopo cena lavo piatti.
After dinner I wash the dishes.
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i · Il piatto becomes i piatti: masculine plural before an ordinary consonant takes i.

15 questions.

Set 3 · Trickier cases

31
studentessa spagnola è molto brava.
The Spanish (female) student is very good.
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La · The lo rule for s + consonant applies only to masculine nouns. Studentessa is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes la.
32
zia di Carla abita a Genova.
Carla’s aunt lives in Genoa.
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La · Zia is feminine, so it takes la. Lo before z is for masculine nouns only (lo zio, but la zia).
33
sci sono in cantina.
The skis are in the cellar.
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Gli · Lo sci starts with s + consonant and does not change in the plural, so the plural is gli sci.
34
uomini al bar guardano la partita.
The men in the café are watching the match.
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Gli · Uomini is the irregular plural of l’uomo. It is masculine and starts with a vowel, so it takes gli.
35
mano destra mi fa male.
My right hand hurts.
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La · Mano ends in -o but is feminine, as destra shows, so it takes la.
36
Oggi ho mani fredde.
My hands are cold today.
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le · Mani is the plural of la mano, which is feminine, so it takes le.
37
problema non è grave.
The problem isn’t serious.
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Il · Problema ends in -a but is masculine (il problema, i problemi), so it takes il.
38
foto delle vacanze sono sul mio telefono.
The holiday photos are on my phone.
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Le · Foto is feminine and does not change in the plural; sono shows it is plural here, so it takes le.
39
radio in cucina non funziona.
The radio in the kitchen doesn’t work.
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La · Radio ends in -o but is feminine, so it takes la.
40
amiche di Sara arrivano domani.
Sara’s (female) friends arrive tomorrow.
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Le · Amiche is feminine plural, so it takes le. L’ is singular only, and gli is for masculine plurals.
41
Secondo me spagnolo è facile per gli italiani.
In my opinion Spanish is easy for Italians.
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lo · Names of languages are masculine and take an article. Spagnolo starts with s + consonant, so it takes lo.
42
hotel in piazza è molto caro.
The hotel in the square is very expensive.
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L’ · The h in hotel is silent, so the word starts with a vowel sound and takes l’.
43
nuovo zaino di Marta è rosso.
Marta’s new backpack is red.
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Il · The article depends on the word right after it. Here that is nuovo, not zaino, so it is il nuovo zaino (but lo zaino).
44
ultimo treno parte a mezzanotte.
The last train leaves at midnight.
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L’ · The word after the article is ultimo, which starts with a vowel, so it is l’ultimo treno (but il treno).
45
altri ragazzi arrivano dopo cena.
The other boys are arriving after dinner.
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Gli · Altri starts with a vowel and is masculine plural, so it takes gli: gli altri ragazzi (but i ragazzi).

15 questions.

Set 4 · Mixed review

46
Scusi, a che ora chiude ufficio postale?
Excuse me, what time does the post office close?
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l’ · Ufficio is masculine singular and starts with a vowel, so it takes l’.
47
gente in questo quartiere è molto gentile.
The people in this neighbourhood are very kind.
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La · Gente means "people" but is feminine singular in Italian, as è and gentile show, so it takes la.
48
D’estate città d’arte sono piene di turisti.
In summer the art cities are full of tourists.
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le · Città is feminine and does not change in the plural; sono and piene show it is plural, so it takes le.
49
Mi dà scontrino, per favore?
Could you give me the receipt, please?
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lo · Scontrino is masculine singular and starts with s + consonant, so it takes lo.
50
weekend andiamo sempre al mare con i bambini.
At the weekend we always go to the seaside with the children.
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Il · Weekend is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant sound, so it takes il.
51
Non trovo orologio, l’hai visto?
I can’t find my watch, have you seen it?
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l’ · Orologio is masculine singular and starts with a vowel, so it takes l’.
52
film di Fellini sono bellissimi.
Fellini’s films are wonderful.
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I · Film does not change in the plural, but sono and bellissimi show it is plural here. Masculine plural before a consonant takes i.
53
Nel fine settimana negozi in centro sono aperti fino alle otto.
At the weekend the shops in the centre are open until eight.
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i · Il negozio becomes i negozi: masculine plural before an ordinary consonant takes i.
54
Prendiamo scale o l’ascensore?
Shall we take the stairs or the lift?
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le · Scale is the plural of la scala, which is feminine, so it takes le. The s + consonant rule matters only for masculine nouns.
55
Mi piacciono molto spaghetti al pomodoro.
I really like spaghetti with tomato sauce.
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gli · Spaghetti is masculine plural and starts with s + consonant, so it takes gli, not i.
56
università di Bologna è molto antica.
The University of Bologna is very old.
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L’ · Università is feminine singular and starts with a vowel, so la shortens to l’.
57
Per andare al lavoro prendo metropolitana.
I take the underground to get to work.
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la · Metropolitana is feminine singular and starts with a consonant, so it takes la.
58
esami di fine anno sono a giugno.
The end-of-year exams are in June.
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Gli · L’esame is masculine; before a vowel the masculine plural article is gli.
59
Dopo cena i miei genitori guardano telegiornale.
After dinner my parents watch the news.
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il · Telegiornale is masculine singular and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes il.
60
In questa scuola insegnanti sono tutti giovani.
In this school the teachers are all young.
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gli · Tutti shows that insegnanti is masculine plural here, and before a vowel the masculine plural article is gli.

15 questions.

Learn it in the free course

A1 · Tappa 2 · People and thingsIdentify, count, and describe people and everyday objects.

More A1 Italian exercises

All 12 →

The rule in brief

Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets

Set 1 · Core practice

Set 2 · More practice

Set 3 · Trickier cases

Set 4 · Mixed review

Random 10

Learn it in the free course

More A1 Italian exercises