1. Indeterminate/Indefinite Articles
Non-specific Indefinite Articles

2. What is an indefinite article. A in English is a indeterminate article
What is an indefinite article? A in English is a indeterminate article. The indefinite article is a word, inflection, or phrase. It is not determining the person, thing, time, etc., referred to.
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3. Articles
The indefinite article refers to an unspecified person or thing and corresponds to the English a/an.
before . . .
masculine
z or s + consonant
uno studente
a student
a vowel or other consonants
un uomo
a man
feminine
a vowel
un’idea
an idea
a consonant
una città
a city
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4. Masculine Singular Uno 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
Uno studente (The Student)
Due to the fact the word starts with the “S + a Consonant.”

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

7. Masculine Singular Un 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. Starts with a vowel, but is masculine.
Masculine Singular
Un esame (The Exam)
Starts with a vowel, but is masculine.

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

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

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
Una notte (The Night)

14. 2. ufficio ______________ 3. palla ______________ 4. caffè __________
Add the appropiate indefintearticle.
1. ragazzo ___________
2. ufficio ______________
3. palla ______________
4. caffè __________
5. dottore __________
6. notte ______________
7. computer ______________
8. stazione ______________
9. idea __________
10. studente __________
Un ragazzo
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

15. 2. ufficio ___un ufficio ___________
Add the appropiate indefintearticle.
1. ragazzo ___________
2. ufficio ___un ufficio ___________
3. palla ___una palla___________
4. caffè ___un caffè_______
5. dottore ____un dottore______
6. notte __una notte____________
7. computer ___un computer___________
8. stazione ___una stazione___________
9. idea ___un’idea_______
10. studente _uno studente_________
Un ragazzo
© and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc.

16. Feminine Singular Un’automobile (The Car)
Starts with a vowel and it is feminine.

17. Feminine Singular
Una palla (The Ball)
Ends in an “A”

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

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

20. Give One-Get One
Write down in your notes one rule how to identify a which indeterminate 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.

21. Provalo! (Give it a try!)
Directions: Write the correct indeterminate 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

22. Feminine Singular Un’università (The university)
It is singular because of the article.
Only in the singular feminine you drop the vowel and add apostrophe.

23. Feminine Singular
Una foto (Is an abbreviation for fotografia meaning Photograph)
Abbreviated words do not change in the plural

24. Cloze Activity Add the proper indeterminate article.
Dominque mangia mela.
Angie beve acqua.
Andres legge libro.
Zuri mangia hamburger.
Jessica indossa zaino.
Once complete, check your answers with your partner.