Indeterminate/Indefinite Articles Non-specific Indefinite Articles What is an indefinite article? A in English is a indeterminate article. The indefinite article is a word, inflection, or phrase. It is not determining the person, thing, time, etc., referred to. © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 1A.1-2 Articles • The indefinite article refers to an unspecified person or thing and corresponds to the English a/an. before . . . masculine feminine © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. z or s + consonant a vowel or other consonants a vowel a consonant 1A.1-3 uno studente a student un uomo a man un’idea an idea una città a city Masculine Singular Uno Zaino (The Backpack) Due to the fact the word starts with the letter, “Z.” Masculine Singular Uno Studente (The Student) Due to the fact the word starts with the “S + a Consonant.” Masculine Singular Un Bambino (The Child) Ends in an “-O” Masculine Singular Un Dottore (The Doctor) • If word ends in –ore it is masculine. • Nouns that end in -e may be either masculine or feminine. Memorize the gender of these nouns as you learn them. masculine esame ristorante © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. feminine automọbile exam notte restaurant 1A.1-8 car night Masculine Singular Un Esame (The Exam) Starts with a vowel, but is masculine. Masculine Singular Un Ristorante (The Restaurant) Masculine Singular • Un Hamburger (Hamburger) • If the word is masculine and starts with an “H” • Nouns ending in a consonant or -ore are masculine, and nouns ending in -ione are feminine. masculine ạutobus computer dottore © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. feminine bus computer lezione lesson stazione station televisione (male) doctor 1A.1-12 television Feminine Singular Una Notte (The Night) Add the appropiate indefintearticle. Un ragazzo 1. ragazzo ___________ 6. notte ______________ 2. ufficio ______________ 7. computer ______________ 3. palla ______________ 8. stazione ______________ 4. caffè __________ 9. idea __________ 5. dottore __________ © and ® 2011 Vista Higher Learning, Inc. 10. studente __________ 1A.1-14 Feminine Singular Un’Automobile (The Car) Starts with a vowel and it is feminine. Feminine Singular Una Palla (The Ball) Ends in an “A” Feminine Singular • Una Studentessa (The Female Student) • If word ends in –essa it is feminine. Feminine Singular • Una Televisione (The TV) • If word ends in -ione it is feminine. Give One-Get One • Write down in your notes one rule how to identify a which indeterminate article to use with Masculine Singular/Plural or Feminine Singular/Plural nouns. • Be ready to discuss it with someone else. • With your notes, talk to four other people in class and write their rule in your notes. • You have eight minutes. Provalo! (Give it a try!) Directions: Write the correct indeterminate article for the following words. 1. Studente 2. Televisione 3. Hamburger 4. Bambino 5. Università 6. Palla 7. Professoressa 8. Zaino 9. Donna 10. Stazione 11. Ristorante 12. Automobile Feminine Singular • Un’università (The university) It is singular because of the article. Only in the singular feminine you drop the vowel and add apostrophe. Feminine Singular • Una Foto (Is an abbreviation for fotografia meaning Photograph) • Abbreviated words do not change in the plural Cloze Activity . 1.Dominque mangia mela. 2.Angie beve acqua. 3.Andres legge libro. 4. Zuri mangia hamburger. 5.Jessica indossa zaino.