1.1: Articolo indeterminativo
- Page ID
- 288968
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)The articolo indeterminativo (indefinite article) corresponds to the English words a/an.
In Italian there are four indefinite articles: un, uno, una, un’. Which one you need to choose depends on the gender of the noun it goes with, and the initial sound of the word that follows the article.
| maschile | femminile |
|---|---|
| un un amico, un corso, un attore | una una ragazza, una lezione |
| uno - before “s+consonant” or “z” or "ps" uno studente, uno zio, uno psicologo | un’ - before a vowel un’amica, un’idea, un'estate |
NOTE: The article you choose depends on the first or first two letters of the following word, which can be an adjective or a noun (the same happens in English: an apple, a good apple). For example:
uno scrittore un bravo scrittore un’amica una vecchia amica un albergo uno splendido albergo
Uso dell’articolo indeterminativo
You generally use the indefinite article in Italian when a or an are used in English, but keep in mind the following differences:
- Un, uno, una, un’ are also the forms of the numeral uno (one)
Una pasta e un cappuccino per favore! One pastry and one cappuccino, please!
- There are cases in which the indefinite article is used in English but not in Italian:
- with the words cento and mille
cento volte mille dollari a hundred times a thousand dollars
- in exclamations with che (what a)
Che sorpresa! Che peccato! What a surprise! What a pity!
- when you translate a few or a lot
qualche parola molti soldi a few words a lot of money
- after the verbs essere and diventare (to become) before nouns indicating profession, nationality, religion, political affiliations, and marital status
Maria è cattolica e suo marito è protestante. Maria is a Catholic and her husband is a Protestant.
Paolo è scapolo. Paolo is a bachelor.
Era medico. Era un bravo medico! He was a doctor. He was a good doctor!
Vuole diventare avvocato. She wants to become a lawyer.
NOTE: To say what someone’s job is you either leave out the article or you use the verb fare with the definite article
Sara è avvocato. Sara fa l’avvocato. Sara is a layer. Sara is a lawyer. Giulio era insegnante. Giulio faceva l’insegnante. Giulio was a teacher. Giulio was a teacher.
Aggettivi “buono” e “nessuno”
When the adjectives buono and nessuno come before a noun, they follow the same pattern as the indefinite article.
| maschile | femminile |
|---|---|
| buon un buon amico | buona una buona macchina |
| buono - before “s+consonant” or “z” un buono studente | buon’ - before a vowel una buon’amica |
| nessun nessun amico | nessuna nessuna macchina |
| nessuno - before “s+consonant” or “z” nessuno studente | nessun’ - before a vowel nessun’amica |
- When buono follows the noun (i.e., it is not in the same position as the indefinite article), use the regular endings buono, buona. Always use the regular endings buoni, buone in the plural.
Danno un cappuccino gratis, ma non è buono. They give a free cappuccino, but it isn’t good.
Preferisco pagare per un cappuccino buono. I prefer to pay for a good cappuccino.
- Nessuno is used only in the singular.
Conversazione
PAOLA: Seguo un buon corso. Ho una buona insegnante e anche buoni compagni di classe.
FRANCESCO: Io invece seguo un corso che non è buono. Ho un insegnante che non è buono e non ho nessun amico in classe.