English Grammar for Students of Italian – Flashcards
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WHAT IS MEANT BY GENDER?
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Gender in the grammatical sense is the classification of a word as masculine, feminine, or neuter. All italian nouns have gender.
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Why is it essential to know the gender of a noun in the italian language?
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It determines the gender of all the words related to it (articles, adjectives, pronouns, etc.).
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Masculine in italian is:
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Maschile
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Feminine in italian is:
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Femminile
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Feminine words end with:
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a, i, e, -ie, -trice, -zione, or -dine La casa, la motrice, la lezione, l'analisi Exception: il problema
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Masculine words end with:
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o, e, -ore, consonant sport, film, gatto, dottore Exception: la mano
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WHAT IS MEANT BY NUMBER?
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Number in the grammatical sense is the designation of a word as singular or plural.
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Singular nouns which end in -o or -e change to __ to form the plural.
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singular nouns which end in -o or -e change to *-i* to form the plural giomale - giomali lezione - lezioni
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Singular nouns which end in -a change to __ to form the plural.
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Singular nouns which end in -a change to *-e* to form the plural. casa - case ragazza - ragazze
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Which singular nouns do not change to a plural form?
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Shortened nouns. Also singular nouns which end in a vowel with a written accent, an -i, or a consonant do not change to form the plural. foto, città, virtù, analisi, tesi, bar, film.
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What nouns are always considered singular?
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Collective nouns that refer to a group of persons or things: La squadra di calcio ha undici giocatori. The soccer team has eleven players.
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Can nouns change gender when they become plural?
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A few, for example: l'uovo (m.) --> le uova (f.) il braccio (m.) --> le braccia (f.)
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WHAT ARE INDEFINITE AND DEFINITE ARTICLES?
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An article is a word placed before a noun to indicate whether the noun refers to an unspecified person, animal, place, thing, event, idea.
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WHAT IS A PARTITIVE?
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A partitive indicates that only part of a whole (some bread, some water) or part of a group of things or people (some letters, some boys) is being referred to.
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What composes the partitive?
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They are normally expressed by the word di + the definite article which agrees with the gender and number of the noun.
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What are the singular partitives?
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di + il -> del di + lo -> dello di + 1' -; dell'
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What are the plural partitives?
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di + la -> della di + i -> dei di + gli -> degli di + le -> delle
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When are partitives optional?
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It is optional in interrogative sentences. Hai (del) pane?
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When are partitives never used?
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They are never used in negative sentences. No, non ho (del) pane.
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What is the possessive?
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The term possessive indicates that one noun owns or possesses another noun.
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How many possessives exist in the italian language?
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To express possession only *di* is used. la camicia di Giovanni il padre delle ragazze
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What is a verb?
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A verb is a word that indicates a physical or mental activity or condition
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What is the infinitive verb ending?
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Words which end in -are, -ere, or -ire;
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What conjugated words do not use infinitive?
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Essere (to be), avere (to have), or stare (to be).
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What are the auxiliary verbs?
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A verb is called an auxiliary verb or helping verb when it helps another verb form one of its tenses. It can also be used alone, in which case it is called the main verb. La ragazza *è* al cinema. (main verb essere, to be) Il ragazzo *ha* mangiato la mela. (auxiliary verb avere, to have)
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What is a subject pronoun?
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A subject pronoun is a pronoun used as a subject of a verb.
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The singular 1st person pronoun in italian is:
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io
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The plural 1st person pronoun in italian is:
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noi
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The singular 2nd person pronoun in italian is:
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tu [fam.] Lei [form.]
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The plural 2nd person pronoun in italian is:
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voi [fam.] Loro [form.]
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The singular 3rd person pronoun in italian is:
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lui (he) lei (she, it)
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The plural 3rd person pronoun in italian is:
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loro
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When is the familiar "you" used?
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The familiar forms (tu or voi) are used with one's family, friends, children and pets. In general, the familiar you is used with persons you call by first name.
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When is the formal "you" used?
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The forms of formal you are used to address someone you do not know well or to whom you wish to show respect.
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to be continued...
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to be continued...
