Plurals and articles
Many Italian nouns change their final vowel in the plural: masculine -o usually becomes -i, feminine -a usually becomes -e, and -e usually becomes -i: , , .
Articles change too. Use with nouns that take singular : . Use for masculine nouns taking or : , . All feminine nouns use plural : , .
Learn the noun with its article so you remember its gender and plural: , . Some borrowed words stay the same, as in .
You can now describe several objects in the flat: , , , . The related adjective also takes a plural form.
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| -o → -i | il tavolo → i tavoli | table → tables |
| table → tables | ||
| -a → -e | la sedia → le sedie | chair → chairs |
| chair → chairs | ||
| -e → -i | la chiave → le chiavi | key → keys |
| key → keys | ||
| the (masculine plural) | ||
| the (masculine plural) | ||
| / | / | the (plural) |
| the (plural) | ||
Il tavolo, i tavoli.The table, the tables.
La sedia, le sedie.The chair, the chairs.
La chiave, le chiavi.The key, the keys.
Gli armadi sono vecchi.The wardrobes are old.
Le lampade sono rosse.The lamps are red.
I cucchiai sono nel mobile.The spoons are in the cupboard.
Nel bar ci sono altri tavoli.There are other tables in the café.
Io ho due tazze.I have two cups.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
, .
The table, the tables.
, .
The chair, the chairs.
, .
The key, the keys.
.
The wardrobes are old.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Il tavolo, i .
The table, the tables.
La sedia, le .
The chair, the chairs.
La chiave, le .
The key, the keys.
armadi sono vecchi.
The wardrobes are old.
lampade sono rosse.
The lamps are red.
cucchiai sono nel mobile.
The spoons are in the cupboard.
Nel bar ci sono altri .
There are other tables in the café.
Io ho due .
I have two cups.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
La chiave, le .
The key, the keys.
armadi sono vecchi.
The wardrobes are old.
lampade sono rosse.
The lamps are red.
cucchiai sono nel mobile.
The spoons are in the cupboard.
Nel bar ci sono altri .
There are other tables in the café.
Io ho due .
I have two cups.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
The table, the tables.
The chair, the chairs.
The key, the keys.
The wardrobes are old.
The lamps are red.
The spoons are in the cupboard.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
The table, the tables.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The table, the tables.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The chair, the chairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The chair, the chairs.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The key, the keys.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The key, the keys.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The wardrobes are old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
The wardrobes are old.
You say:
Use the meaning and Italian pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
