Nouns Person Place Things

What is a Noun? A noun is a word that identifies a person, animal, place, thing, or idea. As in English, Italian nouns are singular or plural. All Italian nouns also have gender, even those that refer to objects; they are either masculine or feminine. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Usually, nouns that end in -o are masculine, and nouns that end in -a are feminine. libro book tạvolo table ufficio office casa house domanda question idea © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Masculine Singular Zaino (Backpack)

Masculine Singular Studente (Student)

Masculine Singular Bambino (Child)

Masculine Singular Dottore (Doctor) If word ends in –ore it is masculine.

Nouns that end in -e may be either masculine or feminine Nouns that end in -e may be either masculine or feminine. Memorize the gender of these nouns as you learn them. masculine feminine esame exam ristorante restaurant automọbile car notte night © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Masculine Singular Esame (Exam)

Ristorante (Restaurant) Masculine Singular Ristorante (Restaurant)

Nouns ending in a consonant or -ore are masculine, and nouns ending in -ione are feminine. ạutobus bus computer dottore (male) doctor lezione lesson stazione station televisione television © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Feminine Singular Notte (Night)

Feminine Singular Automobile (Car)

Feminine Singular Palla (Ball)

Feminine Singular Studentessa (Female Student) If word ends in –essa it is feminine.

If word ends in -ione it is feminine. Feminine Singular Televisione (TV) If word ends in -ione it is feminine.

Give One-Get One Write down in your notes one rule how to identify a Masculine or Feminine Singular nouns and be ready to discuss it with someone else. With your notes, talk to three other people in class and write their rule in your notes. You have six minutes.

Provalo! (Give it a try!) Directions: Write whether the word is feminine or masculine. 1. Studente 2. Televisione 3. Hamburger 4. Bambino 5. Università 6. Palla 7. Professoressa 8. Zaino 9. Donna 10. Stazione

To form the plural of most Italian nouns, you need to change the final vowel. The masculine ending -o becomes -i, and the feminine ending -a becomes -e. Regardless of gender, singular nouns ending in -e change the vowel to -i to form the plural. singular plural masculine ragazzo boy ragazzi boys ristorante restaurant ristoranti restaurants feminine donna woman donne women notte night notti nights

Masculine Plural Zaini (Backpacks)

Masculine Plural Bambini (Children)

Masculine Plural Studenti (Students)

Feminine Plural Palle (Balls)

Feminine Plural Studentesse (Female Students) If word ends in –esse it is feminine.

If word ends in ioni it is feminine. Feminine Plural Televisioni (TVs) If word ends in ioni it is feminine.

Shortened nouns and nouns that end in a consonant or accented vowel do not change from the singular to the plural. singular plural una foto a photo un ạutobus a bus un caffè coffee due foto two photos due ạutobus two buses due caffè two coffees © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

Feminine Singular or Plural Foto (Is an abbreviation for fotografia meaning Photograph) Abbreviated words do not change in the plural

Feminine Singular/Plural Università (Universities/University) Could be plural or singular if ends in an accent.

Masculine Singular/Plural Hamburger (Hamburger/Hamburgers) If the noun ends in consonant it could be plural or singular.

Provalo! (Give it a try!) Directions: Write whether the word is masculine or feminine. Then decide whether it is singular, plural, or both. 1. Studente 2. Televisione 3. Hamburger 4. Bambini 5. Università 6. Palla 7. Professoressa 8. Zaino 9. Donne 10. Stazioni 11. Ristorante 12. Automobili

Think-Pair-Share In pairs write a list of three objects from your own cultural backgrounds and interests translated into Italian. Then in pairs try to figure out whether what gender they are in Italian. Once completed, check your work with a neighboring group. You have five minutes.

Provalo! (Give it a try!) Directions: Write whether the word is singular, plural, or both. Studenti 2. Televisione 3. Hamburger 4. Bambini 5. Università 6. Palle 7. Professoressa 8. Zaino 9. Donne 10. Stazioni 11. Ristorante 12. Automobili