One or more?
Add the second grammar system and use it in controlled sentences.
Plural nouns and adjective agreement
Most nouns in -o change to -i, nouns in -a change to -e, and nouns in -e change to -i. The definite articles also change: il becomes i, lo and masculine l’ become gli, and la or feminine l’ become le.
An adjective in -o has four endings: -o, -a, -i, -e. An adjective in -e has one singular form and a plural in -i. Make every linked word agree.
- il libro nuovo / i libri nuovi· the new book / the new books
- la sedia rossa / le sedie rosse· the red chair / the red chairs
- lo zaino nero / gli zaini neri· the black backpack / the black backpacks
- l’amica italiana / le amiche italiane· the Italian friend / the Italian friends
Controlled practice model
Build each sentence from meaning to form. Select the verb or function first, then check every linked ending and the position of small words.
- il cane grande / i cani grandi· the large dog / the large dogs
- la notte importante / le notti importanti· the important night / the important nights
- la città / le città· the city / the cities
- il film / i film· the film / the films
One person or more than one
Use the same agreement pattern for people. «Lo studente» becomes «gli studenti»; «la studentessa» becomes «le studentesse». If an adjective describes them, it must agree too: «simpatico», «simpatica», «simpatici», «simpatiche». In «due persone simpatiche», persone is grammatically feminine plural even when the people have different genders.
- lo studente simpatico / gli studenti simpatici· the friendly male student / the friendly male students
- la studentessa alta / le studentesse alte· the tall female student / the tall female students
- l’amico italiano / gli amici italiani· the Italian male friend / the Italian male friends
- una persona giovane / due persone giovani· a young person / two young people