1. Definite/Determinate Articles
Specific Definite Articles

2. What is an article. The in English is a determinate article
What is an article? The in English is a determinate article. The determinate article that introduces a noun phrase and implies that the thing mentioned has already been mentioned, or is common knowledge, or is about to be defined.
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4. Masculine Singular Lo zaino (The Backpack)
Due to the fact the word starts with the letter, “Z.”

5. Due to the fact the word starts with the “S + a Consonant.”
Masculine Singular
Lo studente (The Student)
Due to the fact the word starts with the “S + a Consonant.”

6. Masculine Singular
Il bambino (The Child)
Ends in an “-O”

7. Masculine Singular Il dottore (The Doctor)
If word ends in –ore it is masculine.

8. 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
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9. Masculine Singular
L’esame (The Exam)
Starts with a vowel.

10. Il ristorante (The Restaurant)
Masculine Singular
Il ristorante (The Restaurant)

11. Masculine Singular L’hamburger (Hamburger)
If the word is masculine and starts with an “H” use “L’”

12. 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
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13. Feminine Singular
La notte (The Night)

14. L’automobile (The Car)
Feminine Singular
L’automobile (The Car)
Starts with a vowel

15. Feminine Singular
La palla (The Ball)
Ends in an “A”

16. Feminine Singular La studentessa (The Female Student)
If word ends in –essa it is feminine.

17. Feminine Singular La televisione (The TV)
If word ends in -ione it is feminine.

18. • The definite article (the) indicates a specific person or thing.
singular
plural
before . . .
masculine
a vowel
l’autore
the author
gli autori
the authors
z or s + consonant
lo sport
the sport
gli sport
the sports
other consonants
il libro
the book
i libri
the books
feminine
a vowel
l’amica
the friend
le amiche
the friends
a consonant
la casa
the house
le case
the houses
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

19. Give One-Get One
Write down in your notes one rule how to identify a which determinate article to use with Masculine Singular/Plural or Feminine Singular/Plural nouns.
Be ready to discuss it with someone else.
With your notes, talk to four other people in class and write their rule in your notes.
You have eight minutes.

20. Provalo! (Give it a try!)
Directions: Write the correct determinate article for the following words. 1. Studente 2. Televisione 3. Hamburger 4. Bambino 5. Università 6. Palla 7. Professoressa 8. Zaino 9. Donna 10. Stazione 11. Ristorante 12. Automobile

21. Masculine Plural Gli zaini (The Backpacks)
Starts with “Z” and ends in “I”

22. I bambini (The Children)
Masculine Plural
I bambini (The Children)
Ends in an “I”

23. Masculine Plural Gli studenti (The Students)
Starts with “S + Consonant” and ends in “I”

24. Feminine Plural
Le palle (The Balls)

25. Feminine Plural Le studentesse (Female Student)
If word ends in –esse it is feminine.

26. If word ends in -ioni it is feminine and plural.
Feminine Plural
Le televisoni (TV)
If word ends in -ioni it is feminine and plural.

27. Feminine Singular L’università (The University)
It is singular because of the article.
Only in the singular you drop the vowel and add apostrophe.

28. Feminine Plural Le università (The Universities)
It is plural because of the article.
Strangely enough, in the plural you do not drop the vowel and add an apostrophe.

29. Masculine Plural Gli hamburger (The Hamburgers)
“L’” becomes “Gli” in the plural

30. Feminine Singular or Plural
La foto or Le foto
(Is an abbreviation for fotografia meaning Photograph)
Abbreviated words do not change in the plural

31. • The definite article (the) indicates a specific person or thing.
singular
plural
before . . .
masculine
a vowel
l’autore
the author
gli autori
the authors
z or s + consonant
lo sport
the sport
gli sport
the sports
other consonants
il libro
the book
i libri
the books
feminine
a vowel
l’amica
the friend
le amiche
the friends
a consonant
la casa
the house
le case
the houses
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

32. Cloze Activity Add the proper determinate article. Airii mangia mela.
Alyssa beve acqua.
Vincent legge libro.
Antonio mangia hamburger.
Nicole mangia pizza.
Once complete, check your answers with your partner.

33. Provalo! (Give it a try!)
Directions: Write the correct determinate article for the following words. 1. Studenti 2. Televisioni 3. Hamburger 4. Bambini 5. Università 6. Palle 7. Professoresse 8. Zaini 9. Donne 10. Stazioni 11. Ristoranti 12. Automobili