Easy Learning Italian Grammar (2011)
ARTICLES
4. When do you use the definite article?
Italian uses the definite article much more than English does. As a rule of thumb, Italian sentences rarely start with a noun that has no article.
I bambini soffrono. |
Children are suffering. |
Mi piacciono gli animali. |
I like animals. |
Le cose vanno meglio. |
Things are going better. |
Il nuoto è il mio sport preferito. |
Swimming is my favourite sport. |
Non mi piace il riso. |
I don’t like rice. |
Lo zucchero non fa bene. |
Sugar isn’t good for you. |
La povertà è un grande problema. |
Poverty is a big problem. |
L’Australia è molto grande. |
Australia is very big. |
La Calabria è bella. |
Calabria is beautiful. |
Note that if the name of a country comes after the Italian word in, which means to or in, the article is not used.
Vado in Francia a giugno. |
I’m going to France in June. |
Lavorano in Germania. |
They work in Germany. |
Tip
When you translate an English sentence which starts with a noun, don’t forget to use the definite article in Italian.
Le macchine costano caro. |
Cars cost a lot. |
La frutta fa bene. |
Fruit is good for you. |
In the following cases, the article is used rather differently in Italian from in English:
When you’re talking about parts of the body and bodily actions, use the definite article. The English adjectives my, your, his and so on are not translated.
Dammi la mano. |
Give me your hand. |
Mi fa male il piede. |
My foot is hurting. |
Soffiati il naso! |
Blow your nose! |
Use the definite article when talking about clothes.
Si è tolto il cappotto. |
He took off his coat. |
Mettiti le scarpe. |
Put your shoes on. |
Use the definite article with the time, dates and years.
all’una |
at one o’clock |
alle due |
at two o’clock |
Era l’una. |
It was one o’clock. |
Sono le due. |
It’s two o’clock. |
Sono nata il primo maggio 1990. |
I was born on May 1 1990. |
Verranno nel 2012. |
They’re coming in 2012. |
Use the definite article with words such as my, your and his.
la mia casa |
my house |
le sue figlie |
her daughters |
i vostri amici |
your friends |
For more information on Possessive adjectives, see page 34.
When you talk about how much something costs per pound, per kilo, and so on; about rates, speeds, and about how often something happens, use the word aand the definite article.
Costano 3 euro al chilo. |
They cost 3 euros a kilo. |
70 km all’ora |
70 km an hour |
50.000 dollari al mese |
50,000 dollars per month |
due volte alla settimana |
twice a week |
You use the definite article when you are referring to people by using their titles, but NOT when you are speaking to them directly.
La signora Rossi è qui. |
Mrs. Rossi is here. |
Il dottor Gentile |
Doctor Gentile |
BUT |
|
Scusi, signora Rossi. |
Excuse me, Mrs. Rossi. |
Key points
Definite articles are used much more in Italian than in English.
Italian sentences rarely start with a noun that has no article.
Sometimes the definite article is used very differently from English. For instance, you use it with parts of the body and the time.