L’articolo partitivo / The partitive article.

The partitive article (formed by the preposition Di = the definite article) indicates a not well-determinate part of a large whole.

1. Di + il = del.
2. Di + l’ = dell’.
3. Di + lo = dello.
4. Di + i = dei.
5. Di + gli = degli.
6. Di + la = della.
7. Di + le = delle.

	Singular	Plural
Masculine	Del Dell’ Dello	Dei Degli
Femminile	Della Dell’	Delle

1. The partitive article (del)

“Del” is used before masculine nouns that begin with a consonant. The plural of Del is Dei.

• Del gelato (Some ice cream).
• Del vino (Some wine).
• Del latte (Some milk).
• Del pane (Some bread).
• Dei soldati (Some soldiers).

2. The partitive article (della)

“Della” is used before feminine nouns that begin with a consonant. The plural of Della is Delle.

• Della marmellata (Some jam).
• Della pasta (Some pasta).
• Delle patate (Some potatoes).

3. The partitive article (dello)

“Dello” is used before masculine nouns that begin with a (s + consonant, z, x,pn, gn,ps,y). The plural of Dello is Degli.

• Dello zucchero (Some sugar).
• Dello spago (Some string).
• Degli gnomi (Some gnomes).

4. The partitive article (dell’)

(Dell’) is used before nouns that begin with a vowel. The plural of the masculine Dell’ is Degli and of the feminine Dell’ is Delle.

• Dell’inchiostro (Some ink). (m)
• Degli attori (Some actors). (m)
• Degli occhi (Some eyes). (m)
• Dell’acqua (Some water). (f)
• Dell’uva (Some grapes). (f)
• Delle arie (Some arias). (f)

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Exercises on the lesson here

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Next lesson:

Usi del articolo partitivo/ Uses of the partitive articles.

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