Italian indefinite articles exercises
A free A1 (beginner) Italian exercise on Articoli indeterminativi (indefinite 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 four forms of "a/an". As with the definite article, the choice depends on the gender of the noun and on the sound the next word begins with.
Masculine nouns take un before most consonants and before vowels (un libro, un amico). They take uno before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, x and y (uno zaino, uno studente, uno yogurt). Feminine nouns take una before a consonant (una casa) and un’ before a vowel (un’amica).
Watch the apostrophe: only the feminine form is shortened, so it is un’amica but un amico, never un’amico. If you already know the definite articles, there is a shortcut: a masculine noun that takes lo takes uno, and a noun that takes l’ takes un if it is masculine and un’ if it is feminine. Indefinite articles are singular only; for "some" Italian uses other words, which come later in the course.
| Masculine | Feminine | |
|---|---|---|
| Before most consonants | un (un libro) | una (una casa) |
| Before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, x, y | uno (uno zaino) | una (una zia) |
| Before a vowel | un (un amico) | un’ (un’amica) |
- un treno, un albergo, uno sport · a train, a hotel, a sport
- una stazione, un’isola, una studentessa · a station, an island, a (female) student
Exercises · 60 questions in 4 sets
Choose the correct indefinite article (un, uno, una, un’) for each sentence.
Set 1 · Core practice
- 1
Vorrei caffè, per favore.
I’d like a coffee, please.
Show answer
un · Caffè is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 2
Ho zio che abita a Napoli.
I have an uncle who lives in Naples.
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uno · Zio is masculine and starts with z, so it takes uno.
- 3
Lavoro in ufficio vicino alla stazione.
I work in an office near the station.
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un · Ufficio is masculine, so it takes un even before a vowel. Only the feminine una shortens to un’.
- 4
Stasera ceno con amica.
Tonight I’m having dinner with a (female) friend.
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un’ · Amica is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
- 5
C’è studente nuovo in classe.
There’s a new student in the class.
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uno · Studente is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 6
Abitiamo in casa piccola in centro.
We live in a small house in the centre.
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una · Casa is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 7
Per me aranciata, grazie.
An orange soda for me, thanks.
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un’ · Aranciata is feminine (it ends in -a) and starts with a vowel, so it takes un’.
- 8
Mia sorella cerca lavoro a Milano.
My sister is looking for a job in Milan.
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un · Lavoro is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 9
In bagno c’è specchio grande.
There’s a big mirror in the bathroom.
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uno · Specchio is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 10
Paolo ha sorella e due fratelli.
Paolo has a sister and two brothers.
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una · Sorella is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 11
Alla fermata aspetto autobus per il centro.
At the stop I wait for a bus to the centre.
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un · Autobus is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe, even though it starts with a vowel.
- 12
Mia madre è insegnante di inglese.
My mother is an English teacher.
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un’ · Insegnante can be masculine or feminine; here it refers to a woman and starts with a vowel, so it takes un’.
- 13
Scusi, c’è farmacia qui vicino?
Excuse me, is there a chemist’s near here?
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una · Farmacia is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 14
A colazione mangio yogurt e una banana.
For breakfast I eat a yogurt and a banana.
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uno · Masculine nouns starting with y take uno: uno yogurt.
- 15
Aspetto Marco da ora!
I’ve been waiting for Marco for an hour!
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un’ · Ora is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
15 questions.
Set 2 · More practice
- 16
Al bar prendo sempre cornetto.
At the café I always have a croissant.
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un · Cornetto is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 17
Il calcio è sport molto popolare in Italia.
Football is a very popular sport in Italy.
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uno · Sport is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 18
Al ristorante ordiniamo bottiglia di vino rosso.
At the restaurant we order a bottle of red wine.
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una · Bottiglia is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 19
Mio fratello ha appartamento in centro.
My brother has a flat in the centre.
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un · Appartamento is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe, even before a vowel.
- 20
Ho idea: andiamo al cinema!
I have an idea: let’s go to the cinema!
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un’ · Idea is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
- 21
Mio cugino ha scooter rosso.
My cousin has a red scooter.
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uno · Scooter is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 22
In giardino c’è albero molto alto.
There’s a very tall tree in the garden.
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un · Albero is masculine, so it takes un even though it starts with a vowel.
- 23
Stasera scrivo lettera a mia nonna.
Tonight I’m writing a letter to my grandmother.
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una · Lettera is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 24
Per pranzo prendo insalata mista.
For lunch I’ll have a mixed salad.
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un’ · Insalata is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
- 25
Domani ho esame di matematica.
Tomorrow I have a maths exam.
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un · Esame is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe.
- 26
Per il compleanno di Anna faccio torta al cioccolato.
For Anna’s birthday I’m making a chocolate cake.
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una · Torta is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 27
Stasera guardo film con Marco.
Tonight I’m watching a film with Marco.
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un · Film is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 28
Per la scuola cerco zaino leggero.
I’m looking for a light backpack for school.
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uno · Zaino is masculine and starts with z, so it takes uno.
- 29
Ho amico che lavora a Londra.
I have a friend who works in London.
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un · Amico is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe: un amico, but un’amica.
- 30
Conosci ristorante buono qui vicino?
Do you know a good restaurant near here?
Show answer
un · Ristorante is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
15 questions.
Set 3 · Trickier cases
- 31
Mia sorella è studentessa di medicina.
My sister is a medical student.
Show answer
una · Uno before s + consonant is for masculine nouns only. Studentessa is feminine, so it takes una.
- 32
Per favore, mi fai spremuta d’arancia?
Could you make me a fresh orange juice, please?
Show answer
una · Spremuta starts with s + consonant but is feminine, so it takes una, not uno.
- 33
Per Natale regalo orologio a mio padre.
For Christmas I’m giving my father a watch.
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un · Orologio is masculine, so it takes un. Un’ with an apostrophe is only for feminine nouns.
- 34
Laura ha zia molto giovane.
Laura has a very young aunt.
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una · Zia starts with z but is feminine, so it takes una (uno zio, but una zia).
- 35
Domani vado da psicologo.
Tomorrow I’m going to see a psychologist.
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uno · Psicologo is masculine and starts with ps, so it takes uno.
- 36
Scusi, in questa zona c’è hotel economico?
Excuse me, is there a cheap hotel in this area?
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un · The h in hotel is silent, so the word behaves like one starting with a vowel. It is masculine, so it takes un.
- 37
Questo è problema serio.
This is a serious problem.
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un · Problema ends in -a but is masculine, as serio shows, so it takes un.
- 38
Ti mando foto del mare.
I’ll send you a photo of the sea.
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una · Foto ends in -o but is feminine (short for fotografia), so it takes una.
- 39
In cucina abbiamo radio vecchia.
We have an old radio in the kitchen.
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una · Radio ends in -o but is feminine, as vecchia shows, so it takes una.
- 40
Marco è artista bravissimo.
Marco is a very talented artist.
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un · Artista can be masculine or feminine; here it refers to Marco, so it is masculine and takes un, with no apostrophe.
- 41
Questa settimana il negozio fa sconto del dieci per cento.
This week the shop is giving a ten per cent discount.
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uno · Sconto is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 42
Cameriere, altro bicchiere, per favore!
Waiter, another glass, please!
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un · The article goes with altro, the word right after it. Altro is masculine (it agrees with bicchiere), so it is un altro, with no apostrophe.
- 43
Chiara è brava insegnante.
Chiara is a good teacher.
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una · The word after the article is brava, which starts with a consonant, so it is una brava insegnante (but un’insegnante).
- 44
Cerco casa in zona tranquilla.
I’m looking for a home in a quiet area.
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una · Zona starts with z but is feminine, so it takes una. Uno is only for masculine nouns.
- 45
Paolo è ottimo cuoco.
Paolo is an excellent cook.
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un · The article goes with ottimo, which starts with a vowel and is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe.
15 questions.
Set 4 · Mixed review
- 46
Scusi, posso avere altra forchetta?
Excuse me, could I have another fork?
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un’ · The article goes with altra, which is feminine (it agrees with forchetta) and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
- 47
Sara è artista molto famosa.
Sara is a very famous artist.
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un’ · Artista refers to Sara here, so it is feminine, as famosa shows. Feminine before a vowel takes un’.
- 48
Il sabato mattina prendo cappuccino in piazza.
On Saturday mornings I have a cappuccino in the square.
Show answer
un · Cappuccino is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 49
Vicino a casa mia c’è supermercato aperto fino alle dieci.
Near my house there’s a supermarket that’s open until ten.
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un · Supermercato starts with s + vowel, not s + consonant, so it takes un, not uno.
- 50
Per il viaggio compriamo guida di Roma.
We’re buying a guidebook to Rome for the trip.
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una · Guida is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 51
Stasera a teatro c’è spettacolo per bambini.
Tonight there’s a children’s show at the theatre.
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uno · Spettacolo is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 52
Alle tre ho appuntamento dal medico.
I have a doctor’s appointment at three.
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un · Appuntamento is masculine, so it takes un with no apostrophe.
- 53
Buongiorno, avete camera doppia per due notti?
Good morning, do you have a double room for two nights?
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una · Camera is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 54
La nostra vicina è signora molto gentile.
Our neighbour is a very kind lady.
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una · Signora is feminine and starts with s + vowel, so it takes una.
- 55
Il martedì sera faccio corso di inglese.
On Tuesday evenings I do an English course.
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un · Corso is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 56
Alla stazione compro biglietto per Firenze.
At the station I buy a ticket to Florence.
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un · Biglietto is masculine and starts with an ordinary consonant, so it takes un.
- 57
Luca lavora in azienda di Bologna.
Luca works for a company in Bologna.
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un’ · Azienda is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
- 58
Stasera mangiamo in pizzeria del centro.
Tonight we’re eating at a pizzeria in the centre.
Show answer
una · Pizzeria is feminine and starts with a consonant, so it takes una.
- 59
Mio padre ha studio di architettura.
My father has an architecture practice.
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uno · Studio is masculine and starts with s + consonant, so it takes uno.
- 60
Il cameriere porta acqua frizzante al tavolo.
The waiter brings a sparkling water to the table.
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un’ · Acqua is feminine and starts with a vowel, so una shortens to un’.
15 questions.
Random 10
10 questions drawn at random from all 60. Repeat as often as you like: every round is different.
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