Gender and articles
Learn the first grammar system for Tappa 2.
Noun gender and articles
Many nouns in -o are masculine and many nouns in -a are feminine. Nouns in -e can have either gender. The ending is a useful clue, not a complete rule.
Use il before most masculine consonants, lo before z or s + consonant, and l’ before a vowel. Use la before a feminine consonant and l’ before a feminine vowel. The indefinite forms are un, uno, una, and un’. Masculine un never takes an apostrophe.
- il libro· the book
- lo studente· the male student
- l’amico· the male friend
- la penna· the pen
Form and use
Compare the forms in the second set. Identify what changes, what stays fixed, and what meaning the change creates.
- l’amica· the female friend
- un tavolo· a table
- uno zaino· a backpack
- un’arancia· an orange
In context
The words of this lesson in sentences from other A1 lessons.
- È un tavolo.· It is a table.Tappa 2 · What is in the room?
- Com’è il tavolo?· What is the table like?Tappa 2 · What is in the room?
- Il soggiorno ha un tavolo rotondo.· The living room has a round table.Tappa 2 · A small home catalogue
- Ho perso uno zaino piccolo.· I lost a small backpack.Tappa 2 · The lost object
- C’è anche una penna verde?· Is there also a green pen?Tappa 2 · The lost object
- Sì, è il mio zaino!· Yes, it is my backpack!Tappa 2 · The lost object
- Sul tavolo c’è un computer nero.· There is a black computer on the table.Tappa 2 · Describe a person and a room
- La mia amica è simpatica e alta.· My friend is friendly and tall.Tappa 2 · Describe a person and a room
- Com’è la tua amica?· What is your friend like?Tappa 2 · Describe a person and a room
- Sul tavolo c’è una tazza blu.· There is a blue cup on the table.Tappa 2 · Photo captions