{"id":38288,"date":"2021-11-19T08:21:21","date_gmt":"2021-11-18T23:21:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/?p=38288"},"modified":"2026-06-04T02:53:48","modified_gmt":"2026-06-03T17:53:48","slug":"italian-nouns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-nouns\/","title":{"rendered":"Italian Nouns: 7 Rules for Gender and Plurals (A2-B1)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>In short.<\/strong> <strong>Italian nouns<\/strong> carry two grammatical tags that drive the rest of the sentence: gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). Get those right and the article, the adjective, and the past participle all fall into line. Italian nouns ending in <em>-o<\/em> are usually masculine, those ending in <em>-a<\/em> are usually feminine, those ending in <em>-e<\/em> can be either and must be memorised. The plural shift is almost robotic for regular italian nouns: <em>-o \u2192 -i<\/em>, <em>-a \u2192 -e<\/em>, <em>-e \u2192 -i<\/em>. The traps are the spelling rules for <em>-ca\/-ga<\/em> and <em>-co\/-go<\/em>, the Greek <em>-ma<\/em> family that looks feminine but is masculine, the irregular plurals <em>uomo \u2192 uomini<\/em> and <em>dito \u2192 dita<\/em>, the invariable foreign words (<em>bar<\/em>, <em>film<\/em>, <em>computer<\/em>), and the suffix shortcuts (<em>-t\u00e0<\/em>, <em>-zione<\/em>, <em>-trice<\/em> are feminine; <em>-ore<\/em>, <em>-ismo<\/em> are masculine; <em>-ista<\/em> takes either gender). This A2-B1 guide walks through the seven rules that cover most italian nouns you will meet.<\/p>\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-toc-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cosa impareremo oggi<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc46\ud83c\udffb Jump to section<\/p>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-wide\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#gender-and-number\">Why italian nouns carry gender and number<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#basic-pattern\">Rule 1: the basic pattern -o, -a, -e<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#singular-plural\">Rule 2: from singular to plural<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#feminine-ca-ga\">Rule 3: feminine -ca, -ga and the -h- trick<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#masculine-co-go\">Rule 4: masculine -co, -go, -io traps<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#nouns-in-e\">Rule 5: nouns in -e (either gender)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#invariable-nouns\">Rule 6: invariable italian nouns<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#gender-shortcuts\">Rule 7: suffix shortcuts for gender<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mobile-gender\">Mobile gender and irregular plurals<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#plurals-change-meaning\">Plurals that change meaning<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#dialog-bookshop\">Dialogue at the bookshop in Padova<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#cheat-sheet\">Italian nouns cheat sheet<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#common-mistakes\">Six common mistakes<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#mini-sfida\">\ud83c\udfaf Mini-challenge<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"#related\">Related guides<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\" \/>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"#quiz\">Quiz<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gender-and-number\">Why italian nouns carry gender and number<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Every italian noun is either masculine or feminine. There is no neuter, no &#8220;it&#8221;. A chair (<em>la sedia<\/em>) is feminine, a book (<em>il libro<\/em>) is masculine, and a table (<em>la tavola<\/em>) is feminine whether anyone is sitting at it or not. On top of that, every noun is singular or plural. That double tag, gender plus number, spreads outward. The article agrees, the adjective agrees, the demonstrative agrees, and the past participle agrees when the auxiliary is <em>essere<\/em> or when a direct object pronoun comes before the verb.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">English speakers often try to skip the gender tag and hope the listener fills in the rest. Italian does not work that way. Saying <em>il casa<\/em> instead of <em>la casa<\/em> breaks the chain immediately, and everything downstream sounds off. The good news: most italian nouns wear their gender on the sleeve, and the endings follow tight patterns. Memorise each noun together with its article, never bare, and you save yourself months of repair work later.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs1-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>Quick lens.<\/strong> <em>Gender is a property of the noun, not of the thing.<\/em> A dress (<em>il vestito<\/em>) is masculine. A shirt (<em>la camicia<\/em>) is feminine. There is no underlying logic that maps clothing to gender. Always store the noun with its article in your memory.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"basic-pattern\">Rule 1: the basic pattern -o, -a, -e<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Three endings cover the majority of italian nouns in the dictionary. <em>-o<\/em> is almost always masculine. <em>-a<\/em> is almost always feminine. <em>-e<\/em> can be either, and you just have to memorise each one with its article. This is the spine of the system; everything else is a small adjustment around it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>il libro<\/em>, the book (m).<br><em>Leggo un libro ogni sera prima di dormire.<\/em><br><em>I read a book every evening before going to sleep.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>la porta<\/em>, the door (f).<br><em>Per favore, chiudi la porta della cucina.<\/em><br><em>Please close the kitchen door.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>il fiore<\/em>, the flower (m).<br><em>Margherita ha portato a casa un fiore dal mercato.<\/em><br><em>Margherita brought home a flower from the market.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>la chiave<\/em>, the key (f).<br><em>Ho dimenticato la chiave sul bancone della cartoleria.<\/em><br><em>I forgot the key on the stationery shop counter.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two of these italian nouns follow the obvious rule (<em>-o<\/em> masculine, <em>-a<\/em> feminine), and two of them, both ending in <em>-e<\/em>, must be learned case by case. There is no reliable shortcut for <em>-e<\/em>, so flashcards are worth the time. A small minority breaks the obvious rule too: <em>la mano<\/em> (the hand) ends in <em>-o<\/em> but is feminine; <em>il problema<\/em> ends in <em>-a<\/em> but is masculine. Those exceptions are not random, and the next rules will explain why.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"singular-plural\">Rule 2: from singular to plural<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For most italian nouns the plural shift is almost robotic. A masculine <em>-o<\/em> becomes <em>-i<\/em>. A feminine <em>-a<\/em> becomes <em>-e<\/em>. A noun in <em>-e<\/em> (either gender) becomes <em>-i<\/em>. Start here; bolt on the exceptions later. The article changes accordingly: <em>il<\/em> becomes <em>i<\/em>, <em>la<\/em> becomes <em>le<\/em>, <em>lo<\/em> becomes <em>gli<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;<\/em> becomes <em>gli<\/em> or <em>le<\/em> depending on the gender.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Singular<\/th><th>Plural<\/th><th>Pattern<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><em>il libro<\/em><\/td><td><em>i libri<\/em><\/td><td>-o \u2192 -i (m)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>la casa<\/em><\/td><td><em>le case<\/em><\/td><td>-a \u2192 -e (f)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>il fiore<\/em><\/td><td><em>i fiori<\/em><\/td><td>-e \u2192 -i (m)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>la chiave<\/em><\/td><td><em>le chiavi<\/em><\/td><td>-e \u2192 -i (f)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>lo studente<\/em><\/td><td><em>gli studenti<\/em><\/td><td>-e \u2192 -i (m)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>l&#8217;amica<\/em><\/td><td><em>le amiche<\/em><\/td><td>-a \u2192 -e (with -h-)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notice that a feminine <em>-e<\/em> behaves exactly like a masculine <em>-e<\/em> in the plural: both end in <em>-i<\/em>. The article is what signals gender in speech, so never drop it when you are still building confidence. <em>I fiori<\/em> and <em>le chiavi<\/em> sound similar in their ending; the article makes the difference clear at once.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"feminine-ca-ga\">Rule 3: feminine -ca, -ga and the -h- trick<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Feminine <em>-a<\/em> is the friendliest family of italian nouns. The default plural is <em>-e<\/em>, and the sound stays the same as the singular. Where it gets spicy: when the noun ends in <em>-ca<\/em> or <em>-ga<\/em>, Italian inserts an <em>-h-<\/em> in the plural to preserve the hard sound. Without the <em>-h-<\/em>, the <em>c<\/em> or <em>g<\/em> would soften before the <em>e<\/em> and the word would sound completely different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>l&#8217;amica<\/em> \u2192 <em>le amiche<\/em>, the friends.<br><em>Le amiche di Caterina arrivano da Modena.<\/em><br><em>Caterina&#8217;s friends are arriving from Modena.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>la collega<\/em> \u2192 <em>le colleghe<\/em>, the colleagues.<br><em>Le colleghe della libreria mi hanno regalato un libro.<\/em><br><em>The bookshop colleagues gave me a book.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>la banca<\/em> \u2192 <em>le banche<\/em>, the banks.<br><em>Le banche del centro chiudono presto il sabato.<\/em><br><em>The banks in the centre close early on Saturday.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A handful of feminine italian nouns in <em>-cia<\/em> and <em>-gia<\/em> drop the <em>-i-<\/em> in the plural when a consonant comes before: <em>la pioggia<\/em> becomes <em>le piogge<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;arancia<\/em> becomes <em>le arance<\/em>. When a vowel comes before the <em>-cia<\/em>, the <em>-i-<\/em> stays: <em>la camicia<\/em> becomes <em>le camicie<\/em>. You do not need to be surgical here; native speakers themselves hesitate, and modern Italian accepts both forms in borderline cases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"masculine-co-go\">Rule 4: masculine -co, -go, -io traps<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Masculine <em>-o<\/em> is mostly predictable, but three subfamilies of italian nouns need a second look. The trouble comes when the noun ends in <em>-co<\/em>, <em>-go<\/em>, or <em>-io<\/em>. Each of these triggers a small spelling adjustment that English speakers often skip, with results that range from amusing to embarrassing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>-co, -go with stress on the second-to-last syllable<\/strong>: keep the hard sound, add <em>-h-<\/em>. <em>il gioco<\/em> \u2192 <em>i giochi<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;albergo<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli alberghi<\/em>, <em>il fuoco<\/em> \u2192 <em>i fuochi<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>-co, -go with stress further back<\/strong>: drop the <em>-h-<\/em>. <em>il medico<\/em> \u2192 <em>i medici<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;asparago<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli asparagi<\/em>, <em>il sindaco<\/em> \u2192 <em>i sindaci<\/em>. There are exceptions in both directions (<em>amico \u2192 amici<\/em>, <em>greco \u2192 greci<\/em>, <em>porco \u2192 porci<\/em>, <em>nemico \u2192 nemici<\/em>), but the stress test catches most cases.<\/li>\n<li><strong>-io with unstressed i<\/strong>: plural is simply <em>-i<\/em>, not <em>-ii<\/em>. <em>il negozio<\/em> \u2192 <em>i negozi<\/em>, <em>il figlio<\/em> \u2192 <em>i figli<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;occhio<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli occhi<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>-io with stressed i<\/strong>: the plural keeps both <em>i<\/em>&#8216;s. <em>lo zio<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli zii<\/em>, <em>il pendio<\/em> \u2192 <em>i pendii<\/em>, <em>il leggio<\/em> \u2192 <em>i leggii<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-obs2-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udd0d <strong>When in doubt, say the word out loud.<\/strong> <em>If you hear a soft c in the singular (amico) and want it soft in the plural too, keep it soft: amici. If you hear a hard c (banca) and want it hard, add the h: banche.<\/em> The orthography is just trying to preserve the sound you would say anyway. Italian nouns reward the ear more than the rule book here.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"nouns-in-e\">Rule 5: nouns in -e (either gender)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Italian nouns in <em>-e<\/em> come in both genders, and the ending itself gives you no clue. You learn them one by one, ideally with the article welded to the noun in your memory. There is no shortcut, no rhyme, no shape of the word that tells you whether it is <em>il<\/em> or <em>la<\/em>. The good news: there are only a few hundred of them in active use, and the most common ones cluster around predictable areas of vocabulary (body parts, family, abstract concepts).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>il padre<\/em>, the father; <em>la madre<\/em>, the mother.<br><em>Family words: clear gender from the meaning.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>il dente<\/em>, the tooth (m); <em>la mente<\/em>, the mind (f).<br><em>Same ending, different gender, no logic to decode.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>il ponte<\/em>, the bridge (m); <em>la notte<\/em>, the night (f).<br><em>Memorise as a pair to keep them straight.<\/em><\/li>\n<li><em>il fiume<\/em>, the river (m); <em>la classe<\/em>, the class (f).<br><em>Pair them by sound and meaning together.<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some italian nouns in <em>-e<\/em> name professions and switch gender with the person: <em>il cantante \/ la cantante<\/em> (the singer), <em>il dirigente \/ la dirigente<\/em> (the manager), <em>il giudice \/ la giudice<\/em> (the judge). Here the article does all the work, because the noun itself does not change. Reading any Italian newspaper, you will see these forms constantly in headlines about politics, music, and the courts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"invariable-nouns\">Rule 6: invariable italian nouns<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A whole chunk of the Italian lexicon never changes form between singular and plural. Only the article and the adjective shift to mark the number. These invariable italian nouns fall into five clear groups, and once you know the groups you can guess correctly on almost any new word.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Accented final vowel<\/strong>: <em>la citt\u00e0<\/em> \u2192 <em>le citt\u00e0<\/em>, <em>il caff\u00e8<\/em> \u2192 <em>i caff\u00e8<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;universit\u00e0<\/em> \u2192 <em>le universit\u00e0<\/em>, <em>la virt\u00f9<\/em> \u2192 <em>le virt\u00f9<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Foreign borrowings<\/strong>: <em>il computer<\/em> \u2192 <em>i computer<\/em>, <em>il bar<\/em> \u2192 <em>i bar<\/em>, <em>lo sport<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli sport<\/em>, <em>il film<\/em> \u2192 <em>i film<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;autobus<\/em> \u2192 <em>gli autobus<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Words ending in a consonant<\/strong> (almost always borrowings): treated like foreign words, invariable.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Monosyllabic words<\/strong>: <em>il re<\/em> \u2192 <em>i re<\/em>, <em>la gru<\/em> \u2192 <em>le gru<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Words ending in -i<\/strong>: <em>la crisi<\/em> \u2192 <em>le crisi<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;analisi<\/em> \u2192 <em>le analisi<\/em>, <em>la tesi<\/em> \u2192 <em>le tesi<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;oasi<\/em> \u2192 <em>le oasi<\/em>. Most of these come from Greek and are feminine.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Resist the English urge to add an <em>-s<\/em>: <em>i film<\/em>, never <em>i films<\/em>. Italian borrows the singular form and keeps it for the plural. The same with <em>i computer<\/em>, <em>i bar<\/em>, <em>i tram<\/em>. The article alone signals the number. This is one of the most consistent rules in the entire system of italian nouns, and one of the easiest to break out of habit if your first language is English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"gender-shortcuts\">Rule 7: suffix shortcuts for gender<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When you cannot rely on the last vowel alone, certain suffixes fix the gender of italian nouns for you. Memorise these and you can guess correctly on thousands of unfamiliar words. The system is remarkably consistent: <em>-t\u00e0, -t\u00f9, -zione, -sione, -trice<\/em> are reliably feminine; <em>-ore, -ismo, -ema<\/em> are reliably masculine; <em>-ista<\/em> takes either gender depending on the person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Suffix<\/th><th>Gender<\/th><th>Example<\/th><th>Meaning cue<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>-t\u00e0, -t\u00f9<\/td><td>f<\/td><td><em>la libert\u00e0<\/em>, <em>la giovent\u00f9<\/em><\/td><td>abstract qualities, invariable plural<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-zione, -sione<\/td><td>f<\/td><td><em>la stazione<\/em>, <em>la decisione<\/em><\/td><td>actions and results<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-trice<\/td><td>f<\/td><td><em>l&#8217;attrice<\/em>, <em>la direttrice<\/em><\/td><td>feminine of -tore jobs<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ore<\/td><td>m<\/td><td><em>il dottore<\/em>, <em>il colore<\/em><\/td><td>professions, qualities<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ema (Greek)<\/td><td>m<\/td><td><em>il problema<\/em>, <em>il tema<\/em><\/td><td>plural in -emi, not -eme<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ista<\/td><td>m\/f<\/td><td><em>il giornalista<\/em>, <em>la giornalista<\/em><\/td><td>the article picks the gender<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ismo<\/td><td>m<\/td><td><em>il turismo<\/em>, <em>il socialismo<\/em><\/td><td>doctrines and movements<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <em>-ema<\/em> family of italian nouns catches everyone once: <em>il problema<\/em> looks feminine to the English eye, but it is masculine and its plural is <em>i problemi<\/em>. Same for <em>il tema<\/em>, <em>il sistema<\/em>, <em>il poema<\/em>, <em>il teorema<\/em>, <em>il programma<\/em>, <em>il diploma<\/em>. These come from Greek neuter nouns and Italian preserved their masculine gender as a fossil. If the <em>-ma<\/em> word has an obvious English equivalent (programme, problem, system, drama), it is almost always masculine in Italian.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task1-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Mini-task:<\/strong> Choose the correct article (<em>il<\/em>, <em>la<\/em>, <em>lo<\/em>, <em>l&#8217;<\/em>) for each italian noun.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>___ problema<\/li>\n<li>___ stazione<\/li>\n<li>___ colore<\/li>\n<li>___ libert\u00e0<\/li>\n<li>___ giornalista (uomo)<\/li>\n<li>___ mano<\/li>\n<li>___ socialismo<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 See answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. <strong>il<\/strong> problema (-ema, masculine)<\/p>\n<p>2. <strong>la<\/strong> stazione (-zione, feminine)<\/p>\n<p>3. <strong>il<\/strong> colore (-ore, masculine)<\/p>\n<p>4. <strong>la<\/strong> libert\u00e0 (-t\u00e0, feminine)<\/p>\n<p>5. <strong>il<\/strong> giornalista (-ista, male person \u2192 masculine)<\/p>\n<p>6. <strong>la<\/strong> mano (irregular: ends in -o but feminine)<\/p>\n<p>7. <strong>il<\/strong> socialismo (-ismo, masculine)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mobile-gender\">Mobile gender and irregular plurals<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many italian nouns describing people have both a masculine and a feminine form. Some pairs swap the root entirely, others just swap the ending. Reading a magazine or watching a film, you will see these alternations constantly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>il fratello \/ la sorella<\/em> (brother \/ sister): different roots.<\/li>\n<li><em>il padre \/ la madre<\/em> (father \/ mother): different roots.<\/li>\n<li><em>il re \/ la regina<\/em> (king \/ queen): different roots.<\/li>\n<li><em>lo studente \/ la studentessa<\/em>: -e to -essa for a small set.<\/li>\n<li><em>il dottore \/ la dottoressa<\/em>: same -essa pattern.<\/li>\n<li><em>l&#8217;attore \/ l&#8217;attrice<\/em>: -tore to -trice for jobs.<\/li>\n<li><em>il cameriere \/ la cameriera<\/em>: -iere to -iera.<\/li>\n<li><em>lo scrittore \/ la scrittrice<\/em>: -tore to -trice again.<\/li>\n<li><em>il cantante \/ la cantante<\/em>: one form for both, article decides.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For professions, Italian is still catching up with gender-inclusive usage. <em>La ministra<\/em>, <em>la sindaca<\/em>, and <em>l&#8217;ingegnera<\/em> are now standard in most news outlets even though older speakers still say <em>la ministro<\/em>. If you are unsure, look up the official usage in the Treccani vocabolario; the institution updates entries as the language settles. Two italian nouns also break the regular plural completely: <em>l&#8217;uomo<\/em> becomes <em>gli uomini<\/em> (the man, the men), and <em>il dio<\/em> becomes <em>gli dei<\/em> (the god, the gods). Learn them as one-offs and move on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"plurals-change-meaning\">Plurals that change meaning<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A small but stubborn group of italian nouns has two plurals with different meanings. The masculine plural in <em>-i<\/em> refers to the object, usually in a figurative or technical sense. The feminine plural in <em>-a<\/em> refers to the natural, paired, or collective version. These come from old Latin neuter plurals that survived only in this restricted family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Singular (m)<\/th><th>Plural in -i (m)<\/th><th>Plural in -a (f)<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><em>il braccio<\/em><\/td><td><em>i bracci<\/em> (arms of a machine, a river)<\/td><td><em>le braccia<\/em> (arms of the body)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>il dito<\/em><\/td><td><em>i diti<\/em> (fingers seen separately)<\/td><td><em>le dita<\/em> (the fingers together)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>il labbro<\/em><\/td><td><em>i labbri<\/em> (edges of a wound)<\/td><td><em>le labbra<\/em> (the lips)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>l&#8217;uovo<\/em><\/td><td>(no -i form)<\/td><td><em>le uova<\/em> (the eggs)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>il paio<\/em><\/td><td>(no -i form)<\/td><td><em>le paia<\/em> (the pairs)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><em>il miglio<\/em><\/td><td>(no -i form)<\/td><td><em>le miglia<\/em> (the miles)<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These italian nouns are remarkably stable in everyday speech. A doctor will say <em>alza le braccia<\/em> (lift your arms), but an engineer will say <em>i bracci della gru<\/em> (the arms of the crane). A waiter announces <em>uova al tegamino<\/em>, never <em>uovi<\/em>. Get the right plural in the right context and you sound native; mix them up and the listener notices instantly. For a deeper look at this neuter-plural family, the sister guide on uovo\/uova braccio\/braccia explores six pairs with examples.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"dialog-bookshop\">Dialogue at the bookshop in Padova<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Margherita runs a small independent bookshop in the centre of Padova. Jake, an exchange student from Dublin, walks in looking for a grammar book on italian nouns. He has been mangling plurals for a week.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-dialog-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> Buongiorno, cerco un libro sulle &#8220;plurali italiane&#8221;.<br><em>Good morning, I&#8217;m looking for a book about &#8220;Italian plurals&#8221;.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> <em>I plurali<\/em>, al maschile. <em>Il plurale<\/em> \u00e8 una parola maschile in italiano.<br><em>&#8220;I plurali&#8221;, masculine. &#8220;Il plurale&#8221; is a masculine word in Italian.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> Gi\u00e0 sbagliato. Ieri ho comprato &#8220;due camicia&#8221; nuove e la commessa mi ha corretto tre volte.<br><em>Already wrong. Yesterday I bought &#8220;due camicia&#8221; new ones and the shop assistant corrected me three times.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> <em>Due camicie<\/em>. Femminile in <em>-a<\/em>, plurale in <em>-e<\/em>, e la <em>i<\/em> resta perch\u00e9 prima della <em>c<\/em> c&#8217;\u00e8 una vocale.<br><em>&#8220;Due camicie&#8221;. Feminine in -a, plural in -e, and the i stays because a vowel comes before the c.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> E le amicie? O le amiche?<br><em>And &#8220;le amicie&#8221;? Or &#8220;le amiche&#8221;?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> <em>Le amiche<\/em>, con la <em>h<\/em>. Serve per tenere il suono duro della <em>c<\/em>.<br><em>&#8220;Le amiche&#8221;, with the h. It keeps the hard c sound.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> E questo libro spiega anche &#8220;le problemi&#8221;?<br><em>And does this book also cover &#8220;le problemi&#8221;?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> <em>I problemi<\/em>, Jake. <em>Il problema<\/em> \u00e8 maschile, viene dal greco.<br><em>&#8220;I problemi&#8221;, Jake. &#8220;Il problema&#8221; is masculine, it comes from Greek.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> E &#8220;due caff\u00e8&#8221;? Si dice cos\u00ec o &#8220;due caff\u00e8i&#8221;?<br><em>And &#8220;due caff\u00e8&#8221;? Is it said like that or &#8220;due caff\u00e8i&#8221;?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> <em>Due caff\u00e8<\/em>, sempre invariato. Le parole con l&#8217;accento sull&#8217;ultima vocale non cambiano mai al plurale.<br><em>&#8220;Due caff\u00e8&#8221;, always invariable. Words with the accent on the last vowel never change in the plural.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> Quindi anche &#8220;le citt\u00e0&#8221;?<br><em>So &#8220;le citt\u00e0&#8221; too?<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> Esatto. <em>La citt\u00e0, le citt\u00e0. L&#8217;universit\u00e0, le universit\u00e0.<\/em> Cambia solo l&#8217;articolo.<br><em>Exactly. &#8220;La citt\u00e0, le citt\u00e0. L&#8217;universit\u00e0, le universit\u00e0.&#8221; Only the article changes.<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc68\ud83c\udffc\u200d\ud83e\uddb0 <strong>Jake:<\/strong> Ogni regola ha un tranello!<br><em>Every rule has a trap!<\/em><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83d\udc69\ud83c\udffd\u200d\ud83e\uddb1 <strong>Margherita:<\/strong> Hai due mani, dieci dita, un cervello e tanta pazienza. Ce la fai. Ti consiglio questa: si chiama &#8220;L&#8217;utile e il dilettevole&#8221;, ha pi\u00f9 di mille esercizi sui sostantivi.<br><em>You have two hands, ten fingers, one brain and plenty of patience. You&#8217;ll get there. I recommend this one: it&#8217;s called &#8220;L&#8217;utile e il dilettevole&#8221;, it has more than a thousand exercises on nouns.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"cheat-sheet\">Italian nouns cheat sheet<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keep this table open while you build your next sentence. It covers the seven rules for italian nouns at a glance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Ending<\/th><th>Default gender<\/th><th>Plural<\/th><th>Watch out<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>-o<\/td><td>m<\/td><td>-i<\/td><td>-co\/-go stress test, -io stressed i<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-a<\/td><td>f<\/td><td>-e<\/td><td>-ca\/-ga add h, -cia\/-gia i-drop<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-e<\/td><td>m or f<\/td><td>-i<\/td><td>gender must be memorised<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-\u00e0, -\u00f9<\/td><td>f<\/td><td>invariable<\/td><td>abstract qualities<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-zione, -sione<\/td><td>f<\/td><td>-zioni, -sioni<\/td><td>almost never exceptions<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ore<\/td><td>m<\/td><td>-ori<\/td><td>feminine partner in -trice<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ema (Greek)<\/td><td>m<\/td><td>-emi<\/td><td><em>problema<\/em> \u2192 <em>problemi<\/em><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ista<\/td><td>m\/f<\/td><td>-isti \/ -iste<\/td><td>article does the work<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>-ismo<\/td><td>m<\/td><td>-ismi<\/td><td>doctrines, movements<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>consonant \/ foreign<\/td><td>usually m<\/td><td>invariable<\/td><td>no English -s<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"common-mistakes\">Six common mistakes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Six slips with italian nouns flag a B1 sentence as written by a learner. Fixing them is fast, and the payoff is large because nouns sit in every clause.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Adding an <em>-s<\/em> to foreign words: <em>i computer<\/em>, not <em>i computers<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Treating <em>problema<\/em>, <em>tema<\/em>, <em>sistema<\/em> as feminine: they are masculine italian nouns, plural in <em>-i<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Forgetting the <em>-h-<\/em> in <em>amiche<\/em>, <em>banche<\/em>, <em>colleghe<\/em>: the hard sound has to be written.<\/li>\n<li>Pluralising <em>citt\u00e0<\/em>, <em>caff\u00e8<\/em>, <em>universit\u00e0<\/em>: they do not change, only the article shifts to <em>le<\/em> or <em>i<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li>Saying <em>le uomini<\/em>: it is <em>gli uomini<\/em>. Irregular on both gender and plural.<\/li>\n<li>Skipping <em>le braccia \/ i bracci<\/em>: the gender flip in the plural changes the meaning, and readers will notice.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"mini-sfida\">\ud83c\udfaf Mini-challenge: six plurals to nail<\/h2>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-task2-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\ud83c\udfaf <strong>Final challenge:<\/strong> Turn each singular italian noun into its plural. Try it out loud before peeking at the answer.<\/p>\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><em>la banca<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>il medico<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>lo zio<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>il problema<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>la citt\u00e0<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>il braccio<\/em> (of the body) \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>il film<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<li><em>l&#8217;universit\u00e0<\/em> \u2192<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n<details><summary><strong>\ud83d\udc49 See answers<\/strong><\/summary>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>1. <em>le banche<\/em> (add h for hard c)<\/p>\n<p>2. <em>i medici<\/em> (stress further back, no h)<\/p>\n<p>3. <em>gli zii<\/em> (stressed i, double i in the plural)<\/p>\n<p>4. <em>i problemi<\/em> (masculine -ema noun)<\/p>\n<p>5. <em>le citt\u00e0<\/em> (accented final vowel, invariable)<\/p>\n<p>6. <em>le braccia<\/em> (body parts take the feminine plural)<\/p>\n<p>7. <em>i film<\/em> (foreign borrowing, invariable)<\/p>\n<p>8. <em>le universit\u00e0<\/em> (-t\u00e0 always invariable feminine)<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"quiz\">Test your understanding<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take the quiz below to test what you&#8217;ve learned about italian nouns: gender, plurals, suffix shortcuts, and the irregular forms.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"gb-container gb-container-quiz-n38288\"><div class=\"gb-inside-container\">\n        <div class=\"wpProQuiz_content\" id=\"wpProQuiz_215\">\n                    <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit\">\n            <div class=\"time\">Time limit: <span>0<\/span><\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_progress\"><\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_checkPage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Quiz-summary<\/h4>\n\n            <p>\n                <span>0<\/span> of 2 questions completed            <\/p>\n\n            <p>Questions:<\/p>\n\n            <div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_box\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endQuizSummary\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_infopage\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <h4>Information<\/h4>\n\n            \n            <input type=\"button\" name=\"endInfopage\" value=\"Finish quiz\"\n                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button\">\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_text\">\n            <p>\n                <p style=\"text-align:center;\">&#8211;<\/p>\n            <\/p>\n\n            \n            <div>\n                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_button\" type=\"button\" value=\"Start quiz\"\n                       name=\"startQuiz\">\n            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_lock\">\n            <p>\n                You have already completed the quiz before. 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         messageDiv.removeClass('dante-success dante-error').addClass('dante-' + type);\n            messageDiv.text(message).show();\n            setTimeout(() => messageDiv.hide(), 5000);\n        }\n        \n        $('.dante-auth-form').on('submit', function(e) {\n            e.preventDefault();\n            \n            const email = $('#email').val();\n            const password = $('#password').val();\n            const name = $('#name').val();\n            const gdpr = $('#gdpr').is(':checked');\n            const redirect = $('input[name=\"redirect\"]').val();\n            \n            if (!email || !password) {\n                showMessage(texts.emailPasswordRequired);\n                return;\n            }\n            \n            if (mode === 'register') {\n                if (!name) {\n                    showMessage(texts.nameRequired);\n                    return;\n                }\n                if (!gdpr) {\n                    showMessage(texts.acceptTerms);\n                    return;\n                }\n            }\n            \n            $('#submit-btn').prop('disabled', true).text(texts.processing);\n            $('#form-message').hide();\n            \n            $.post('https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php', {\n                action: 'dante_process_auth',\n                mode: mode,\n                email: email,\n                password: password,\n                name: name,\n                redirect: redirect,\n                website: $('#website').val(),\n                nonce: $('input[name=\"nonce\"]').val()\n            }, function(r) {\n                if (r.success) {\n                    showMessage(texts.success, 'success');\n                    setTimeout(() => window.location.href = r.data.redirect, 1000);\n                } else {\n                    showMessage(r.data);\n                    $('#submit-btn').prop('disabled', false).text(mode === 'login' ? texts.signIn : texts.createAccount);\n                }\n            });\n        });\n    });\n    <\/script>\n    \n        <\/div>\n    <\/div>\n                <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_prerequisite\">\n            <p>\n                You have to finish following quiz, to start this quiz:                <span><\/span>\n            <\/p>\n        <\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_results\">\n            <h4 class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Results<\/h4>\n                        <p class=\"wpProQuiz_time_limit_expired\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                Time has elapsed            <\/p>\n                            <p class=\"wpProQuiz_points\">\n                    You scored <span>0<\/span> out of <span>0<\/span> points, (<span>0<\/span>)                <\/p>\n                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_catOverview\" >\n                <h4>Categories<\/h4>\n\n                <div style=\"margin-top: 10px;\">\n                    <ol>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"138\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Cloze: noun gender and plural rules<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                                    <li data-category_id=\"98\">\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catName\">Spot the correct sentence<\/span>\n                                <span class=\"wpProQuiz_catPercent\">0%<\/span>\n                            <\/li>\n                                            <\/ol>\n                <\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_resultsList\">\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 0 to 40%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #e9d5ee, #7b2d8b); width:20%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Let&#8217;s strengthen the foundations on this topic.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>10-Lesson Package<\/strong> gives you ten focused 55-minute sessions with a native teacher, at your own pace.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#7b2d8b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">10-Lesson Package<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"10-Lesson Package\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=8\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#7b2d8b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Get the 10-Lesson Package &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Coraggio: un passo alla volta.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 41 to 65%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #fde2e2, #ab2227); width:53%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Solid base. Let&#8217;s build on it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> A <strong>weekly 1:1 lesson<\/strong> gives you the rhythm and the personalised feedback to turn what you know into what you say automatically.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#ab2227; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Weekly 1:1<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">One-to-one<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/vacanze.webp\" alt=\"Weekly 1:1\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Any level<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">55-minute one-to-one session on Zoom<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Your personal native teacher<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Interactive online materials<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=4\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#ab2227; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Book a Weekly 1:1 lesson &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Avanti tutta!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 66 to 85%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #faecc4, #b8860b); width:75%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Great work. You&#8217;re ready for the group.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> In the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> you&#8217;ll move from solid grammar to live conversation.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#b8860b; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#b8860b; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">Ci vediamo in classe!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                            <li style=\"display: none;\">\n                            <div>\n                                <div style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; max-width:640px; margin:0 auto; padding:36px 24px; color:#1a1a1a; box-sizing:border-box; text-align:center;\">\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; font-weight:700; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; line-height:1.2;\">Ciao ,<\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:13px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:16px 0 14px;\">Your result &middot; 86 to 100%<\/p>\n<div style=\"background:#f0f0f0; height:7px; border-radius:4px; overflow:hidden; margin:0 auto 36px; max-width:320px;\">\n<div style=\"background:linear-gradient(90deg, #cce5d5, #2d6a4f); width:93%; height:7px;\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<h3 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:26px; color:#1a1a1a; margin:0 0 14px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.35;\">Bravissimo! You nailed it.<\/h3>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:18px; color:#333; line-height:1.65; margin:0 auto 38px; max-width:520px;\"><strong>Our suggestion.<\/strong> Step into the <strong>Milano small-group course (A2-B1)<\/strong> to turn accurate Italian into fluent Italian.<\/p>\n<div style=\"height:1px; background:#e8e8e8; margin:0 auto 30px; max-width:120px;\"><\/div>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:12px; color:#666; text-transform:uppercase; letter-spacing:1.5px; margin:0 0 10px;\">Suggested next step<\/p>\n<h4 style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:30px; color:#2d6a4f; margin:0 0 6px; font-weight:700; line-height:1.2;\">Milano group<\/h4>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:16px; color:#666; margin:0 0 24px;\">A2-B1<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/06\/milano-no-sfondo.webp\" alt=\"Milano group\" style=\"width:140px; height:auto; margin:0 auto 26px; display:block;\"\/><\/p>\n<ul style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; color:#333; line-height:1.8; list-style:disc; padding-left:22px; margin:0 auto 32px; max-width:460px; text-align:left; display:inline-block;\">\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Small groups, max 4 students<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Weekly live Zoom sessions<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Grammar, vocabulary, listening, writing<\/li>\n<li style=\"margin:0 0 6px;\">Homework after every lesson<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/membership-checkout\/?level=7\" style=\"display:inline-block; padding:18px 40px; background:#2d6a4f; color:#fff !important; text-decoration:none; border-radius:8px; font-family:-apple-system,BlinkMacSystemFont,Arial,sans-serif; font-size:18px; font-weight:600; letter-spacing:0.3px;\">Join the Milano group &rarr;<\/a><\/p>\n<p style=\"font-family:Georgia,'Times New Roman',serif; font-size:19px; font-style:italic; color:#555; margin:42px 0 0;\">A presto su Zoom!<\/p>\n<\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        <\/li>\n                                    <\/ul>\n            <\/div>\n                        <div style=\"margin: 10px 0px;\">\n                                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewDiv\" style=\"display: none;\">\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewQuestion\">\n                <ol>\n                                            <li>1<\/li>\n                                            <li>2<\/li>\n                                    <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewLegend\">\n                <ol>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #6CA54C;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Answered<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                    <li>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewColor\" style=\"background-color: #FFB800;\"><\/span>\n                        <span class=\"wpProQuiz_reviewText\">Review<\/span>\n                    <\/li>\n                <\/ol>\n                <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n            <div>\n                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"review\" value=\"Review question\"\n                           class=\"wpProQuiz_button2\" style=\"float: left; display: block;\">\n                                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n        <\/div>\n                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_quizAnker\" style=\"display: none;\"><\/div>\n                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_quiz\">\n            <ol class=\"wpProQuiz_list\">\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>1<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>1<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Italian nouns: gender, plural and the seven traps<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Setting.<\/strong> Marta e Tobia sono fratello e sorella e vivono a Vicenza. Il sabato mattina vanno insieme al mercatino delle pulci in Piazza dei Signori: orologi vecchi, libri illustrati, dischi in vinile, vestiti d&#8217;epoca. Mentre frugano fra i banchi, parlano di articoli, generi e plurali.<\/p>\n<p><em>Marta and Tobia are brother and sister and live in Vicenza. On Saturday mornings they go together to the flea market in Piazza dei Signori: old watches, illustrated books, vinyl records, vintage clothes. While they rummage through the stalls, they talk about articles, genders and plurals.<\/em><\/p>\n<p style=\"color:#888;\"><strong>If your keyboard doesn&#8217;t have Italian accents<\/strong>, type an apostrophe instead &mdash; e.g. <code>citta'<\/code> for <code>citt&agrave;<\/code>, <code>caffe'<\/code> for <code>caff&egrave;<\/code>.<\/p>\n<p><em>Choose the form that fits the rule: the right plural, the right gender, or the invariable form for foreign and accented words.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6699\"\n                                data-type=\"cloze_answer\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                        <hr\/><ul><li>Al mercatino delle pulci Marta cerca due (orologie, orologio, orologi) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"7\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(orologi)<\/span><\/span> antichi per la sua collezione.<br><br><em>At the flea market Marta is looking for two antique watches for her collection.<\/em><\/li><li>Prima del mercato Tobia incontra due vecchie (amiche, amice, amici) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(amiche)<\/span><\/span> al bar in Piazza dei Signori.<br><br><em>Before the market Tobia meets two old friends at the bar in Piazza dei Signori.<\/em><\/li><li>Marta sfoglia una vecchia guida illustrata dei (parci, parchi, parche) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(parchi)<\/span><\/span> nazionali italiani.<br><br><em>Marta leafs through an old illustrated guide of the Italian national parks.<\/em><\/li><li>Vicino al banco dei vinili passano due (medichi, medice, medici) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(medici)<\/span><\/span> in pausa pranzo.<br><br><em>Near the vinyl stall two doctors pass by on their lunch break.<\/em><\/li><li>Il mercatino occupa la piazza davanti a tre (negozi, negozii, negozie) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(negozi)<\/span><\/span> di abbigliamento, oggi pieni di vestiti colorati in vetrina.<br><br><em>The market takes over the square in front of three clothing shops, today all with their shutters down.<\/em><\/li><li>Marta ricorda a Tobia che i loro (zi, zii, zie maschi) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"3\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(zii)<\/span><\/span> tornano da Bassano la prossima settimana.<br><br><em>Marta reminds Tobia that their uncles are coming back from Bassano next week.<\/em><\/li><li>Tobia compra una vecchia mappa con tutte le (cittade, citt\u00e0, citt\u00e0i) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(citt\u00e0, citta')<\/span><\/span> del Veneto.<br><br><em>Tobia buys an old map with all the cities of the Veneto region.<\/em><\/li><li>In una scatola da cinque euro Marta trova tre (films, filmi, film) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"4\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(film)<\/span><\/span> in VHS degli anni Novanta.<br><br><em>In a five-euro box Marta finds three films on VHS from the nineties.<\/em><\/li><li>Tobia spiega a sua sorella che (le tradizioni, le tradizione, i tradizioni) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"13\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(le tradizioni)<\/span><\/span> del mercatino durano da cinquant'anni.<br><br><em>Tobia explains to his sister that the market's traditions have lasted for fifty years.<\/em><\/li><li>Davanti al banco dei dischi (la problema, il problema, le problema) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"11\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(il problema)<\/span><\/span> \u00e8 scegliere tra un Battisti e un De Andr\u00e9.<br><br><em>In front of the record stall the problem is choosing between a Battisti and a De Andr\u00e9.<\/em><\/li><li>Sotto la tenda dei vestiti d'epoca lavorano due (uomini, uomi, uomine) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"6\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(uomini)<\/span><\/span> e una signora di Schio.<br><br><em>Under the vintage clothes tent two men and a lady from Schio are working.<\/em><\/li><li>Tobia porta le borse della spesa di Marta con tutte e due le (bracci, bracce, braccia) <span class=\"wpProQuiz_cloze\"><input data-wordlen=\"7\" type=\"text\" value=\"\"> <span class=\"wpProQuiz_clozeCorrect\" style=\"display: none;\">(braccia)<\/span><\/span>, perch\u00e9 lei ha la spalla dolorante.<br><br><em>Tobia carries Marta's shopping bags with both arms, because her shoulder is sore.<\/em><\/li><\/ul><hr\/>                                    <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>12 out of 12. You have the seven noun rules under control.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>Review the noun rules with the twelve correct answers:<\/p>\n<ol style='margin:8px 0 8px 40px;padding-left:8px;'>\n<li><em>due orologi antichi.<\/em> &mdash; <em>il orologio &rarr; gli orologi<\/em>: standard <em>-o &rarr; -i<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>due vecchie amiche.<\/em> &mdash; <em>l&#8217;amica &rarr; le amiche<\/em>: feminine <em>-ca<\/em> adds <em>h<\/em> to keep the hard <em>c<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>dei parchi nazionali.<\/em> &mdash; <em>il parco &rarr; i parchi<\/em>: stress on the penultimate syllable keeps the hard sound with <em>h<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>due medici.<\/em> &mdash; <em>il medico &rarr; i medici<\/em>: stress further back drops the <em>h<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>tre negozi di abbigliamento.<\/em> &mdash; <em>il negozio &rarr; i negozi<\/em>: <em>-io<\/em> with unstressed <em>i<\/em> takes a single <em>-i<\/em> in the plural.<\/li>\n<li><em>i loro zii.<\/em> &mdash; <em>lo zio &rarr; gli zii<\/em>: <em>-io<\/em> with stressed <em>i<\/em> keeps both i&#8217;s.<\/li>\n<li><em>tutte le citt&agrave;.<\/em> &mdash; accented final vowel: invariable, only the article shifts.<\/li>\n<li><em>tre film.<\/em> &mdash; foreign borrowing: invariable, never <em>i films<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>le tradizioni.<\/em> &mdash; <em>-zione &rarr; -zioni<\/em>, always feminine.<\/li>\n<li><em>il problema.<\/em> &mdash; Greek <em>-ema<\/em>, masculine; plural <em>i problemi<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><em>due uomini.<\/em> &mdash; <em>l&#8217;uomo &rarr; gli uomini<\/em>: irregular stem and ending.<\/li>\n<li><em>tutte e due le braccia.<\/em> &mdash; <em>il braccio<\/em> takes the feminine plural <em>le braccia<\/em> for the body; <em>i bracci<\/em> would mean the arms of a chair or a river.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<p><strong>Glossary.<\/strong> <em>mercatino delle pulci<\/em> = flea market; <em>banco<\/em> = stall, counter; <em>vinili<\/em> = vinyl records; <em>vestiti d&#8217;epoca<\/em> = vintage clothes; <em>scatolone<\/em> = box, crate; <em>Piazza dei Signori<\/em> = main square of Vicenza; <em>Bassano<\/em> = Bassano del Grappa, town near Vicenza; <em>Schio<\/em> = town near Vicenza in the foothills.<\/p>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p>Three reflexes that decode most Italian nouns:<\/p>\n<ol style='margin:8px 0 8px 40px;padding-left:8px;'>\n<li><strong>Endings + stress, not English logic<\/strong>: <em>-o<\/em> usually masculine, <em>-a<\/em> usually feminine, <em>-e<\/em> can be either. For <em>-co\/-go<\/em> and <em>-ca\/-ga<\/em>, listen for the hard sound. If you want it hard in the plural, write <em>h<\/em> (<em>amiche, banche, parchi, alberghi<\/em>). If the stress is further back, drop the <em>h<\/em> (<em>medici, asparagi, sindaci<\/em>).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Invariable nouns never change form<\/strong>: accented final vowel (<em>la citt&agrave; \/ le citt&agrave;<\/em>), foreign words (<em>il film \/ i film<\/em>, never <em>i films<\/em>), and Greek <em>-i<\/em> nouns (<em>la crisi \/ le crisi<\/em>). Only the article shifts to mark the number.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Greek <em>-ema<\/em> nouns are masculine<\/strong>: <em>il problema \/ i problemi<\/em>, <em>il tema \/ i temi<\/em>, <em>il sistema \/ i sistemi<\/em>. The <em>-a<\/em> ending is misleading. And <em>l&#8217;uomo<\/em> goes to <em>gli uomini<\/em>: irregular on both stem and ending.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_listItem\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                        <div\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_question_page\" style=\"display:none;\" >\n                            Question <span>2<\/span> of <span>2<\/span>                        <\/div>\n                        <h5 style=\"display: none;\"\n                            class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">\n                            <span>2<\/span>. Question                        <\/h5>\n\n                        \n                                                <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question\" style=\"margin: 10px 0 0 0;\">\n                            <div class=\"wpProQuiz_question_text\">\n                                <h3 style=\"text-align:center;\">Spot the correct sentence<\/h3>\n<p><em>Six small scenes from the same flea market in Vicenza. In each set, only one sentence handles the noun correctly &mdash; gender, plural, agreement, and the trap exceptions. The other two break the rule. Select the correct one in each set.<\/em><\/p>\n<hr \/>\n                            <\/div>\n                                                        <ul class=\"wpProQuiz_questionList\" data-question_id=\"6700\"\n                                data-type=\"multiple\">\n                                \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"0\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"1\"> Sul banco di legno Marta ha visto tre orologie vecchie con il cinturino di cuoio.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"1\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"2\"> Sul banco di legno Marta ha visto tre orologi vecchi con il cinturino di cuoio.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"2\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"3\"> Sul banco di legno Marta ha visto tre orologi vecchie con il cinturino di cuoio.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"3\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"4\"> Due uomi di Schio aprono la tenda dei vestiti e Marta conta i diti di una vecchia statua di legno.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"4\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"5\"> Due uomini di Schio aprono la tenda dei vestiti e Marta conta le dite di una vecchia statua di legno.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"5\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"6\"> Due uomini di Schio aprono la tenda dei vestiti e Marta conta le dita di una vecchia statua di legno.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"6\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"7\"> Davanti al banco dei dischi due artisti di strada cantano e una giovane artista di Padova suona la fisarmonica.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"7\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"8\"> Davanti al banco dei dischi due artiste di strada cantano e una giovane artisto di Padova suona la fisarmonica.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"8\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"9\"> Davanti al banco dei dischi due artisti di strada cantano e una giovane artisto di Padova suona la fisarmonica.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"9\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"10\"> In Piazza dei Signori ci sono tre bars aperti e due negozi vendono vecchi computers e films in VHS.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"10\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"11\"> In Piazza dei Signori ci sono tre bari aperti e due negozi vendono vecchi computeri e filmi in VHS.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"11\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"12\"> In Piazza dei Signori ci sono tre bar aperti e due negozi vendono vecchi computer e film in VHS.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"12\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"13\"> Marta ammira la collezione di cartoline antiche: una bellissima citt\u00e0 di mare, una vecchia universit\u00e0 e una rara tradizione di Bassano.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"13\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"14\"> Marta ammira il collezione di cartoline antiche: un bellissimo citt\u00e0 di mare, un vecchio universit\u00e0 e un raro tradizione di Bassano.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"14\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"15\"> Marta ammira le collezione di cartoline antiche: una bellissima citt\u00e0 di mare, una vecchio universit\u00e0 e una rara tradizione di Bassano.<hr\/>                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"15\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"16\"> Tobia ha il mano sinistro sporco di polvere e dice che la vera problema \u00e8 trovare un disco di De Andr\u00e9.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"16\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"17\"> Tobia ha la mano sinistra sporca di polvere e dice che il vero problema \u00e8 trovare un disco di De Andr\u00e9.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                    \n                                    <li class=\"wpProQuiz_questionListItem\" data-pos=\"17\">\n\n                                                                                                                                <span style=\"display:none;\"><\/span>\n                                            <label>\n                                                <input class=\"wpProQuiz_questionInput\"\n                                                       type=\"checkbox\"\n                                                       name=\"question_215_6700\"\n                                                       value=\"18\"> Tobia ha la mano sinistro sporco di polvere e dice che il vero problema \u00e8 trovare un disco di De Andr\u00e9.                                            <\/label>\n\n                                                                            <\/li>\n                                                                <\/ul>\n                        <\/div>\n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_response\" style=\"display: none;\">\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_correct\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>6 of 6. You spotted every noun trap in context.<\/p><\/p>                                <\/div>\n                                <div style=\"display: none;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_incorrect\">\n                                                                            <span class=\"wpProQuiz_respone_span\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tIncorrect\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span><br>\n                                    <p><hr \/>\n<p>The six correct sentences and why they win:<\/p>\n<ol style=\"margin:8px 0 8px 40px;padding-left:8px;\">\n<li><em>Sul banco di legno Marta ha visto tre orologi vecchi con il cinturino di cuoio.<\/em> &mdash; <em>orologio<\/em> is masculine, plural <em>orologi<\/em>; adjective <em>vecchi<\/em> agrees.<\/li>\n<li><em>Due uomini di Schio aprono la tenda dei vestiti e Marta conta le dita di una vecchia statua di legno.<\/em> &mdash; irregular: <em>l&#8217;uomo &rarr; gli uomini<\/em>; <em>il dito &rarr; le dita<\/em> (fem plural for fingers as a set).<\/li>\n<li><em>Davanti al banco dei dischi due artisti di strada cantano e una giovane artista di Padova suona la fisarmonica.<\/em> &mdash; <em>artista<\/em> is invariable for gender in the singular; plural splits into <em>gli artisti<\/em> (M) and <em>le artiste<\/em> (F).<\/li>\n<li><em>In Piazza dei Signori ci sono tre bar aperti e due negozi vendono vecchi computer e film in VHS.<\/em> &mdash; foreign words keep the same form in the plural; no -s, no -i.<\/li>\n<li><em>Marta ammira la collezione di cartoline antiche: una bellissima citt&agrave; di mare, una vecchia universit&agrave; e una rara tradizione di Bassano.<\/em> &mdash; <em>-zione, -t&agrave;, -ione<\/em> are always feminine; article and adjective both agree.<\/li>\n<li><em>Tobia ha la mano sinistra sporca di polvere e dice che il vero problema &egrave; trovare un disco di De Andr&eacute;.<\/em> &mdash; <em>la mano<\/em> is feminine despite the -o; <em>il problema<\/em> is masculine despite the -a (Greek <em>-ema<\/em>).<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n<\/p>                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                    <div class=\"wpProQuiz_tipp\" style=\"display: none; position: relative;\">\n                                <div>\n                                    <h5 style=\"margin: 0 0 10px;\" class=\"wpProQuiz_header\">Hint<\/h5>\n                                    <p>Test each sentence by checking the noun and its agreement:<\/p>\n<ol style='margin:8px 0 8px 40px;padding-left:8px;'>\n<li><strong>Article + adjective must match gender and number<\/strong>: <em>tre orologi vecchi<\/em> (M plural), not <em>tre orologi vecchie<\/em>. Watch for mixed agreement in the same phrase.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Irregular plurals don&#8217;t follow the -o\/-a\/-e pattern<\/strong>: <em>l&#8217;uomo &rarr; gli uomini<\/em>, <em>il dito &rarr; le dita<\/em> (fem plural for fingers as a set). <em>I diti<\/em> and <em>le dite<\/em> are not Italian forms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>-ista nouns are invariable for gender<\/strong> in the singular (<em>un artista, un&#8217;artista<\/em>) and split in the plural: <em>gli artisti<\/em> (M) \/ <em>le artiste<\/em> (F). There is no <em>artisto<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Foreign words don&#8217;t take -s in Italian<\/strong>: <em>i bar, i film, i computer<\/em>. Don&#8217;t italianise them either: <em>i bari<\/em>, <em>i filmi<\/em>, <em>i computeri<\/em> don&#8217;t exist.<\/li>\n<li><strong>-zione, -t&agrave;, -t&ugrave;, -sione are always feminine<\/strong>: <em>la citt&agrave;, l&#8217;universit&agrave;, la tradizione, la collezione<\/em>. Article and adjective follow: <em>una bellissima citt&agrave;<\/em>, <em>una vecchia universit&agrave;<\/em>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Memorise the exceptions<\/strong>: <em>la mano<\/em> (fem despite -o) &rarr; <em>la mano sinistra<\/em>, not <em>il mano sinistro<\/em>. <em>Il problema<\/em> (masc despite -a, Greek -ema) &rarr; <em>il vero problema<\/em>, not <em>la vera problema<\/em>.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n                                <\/div>\n                            <\/div>\n                        \n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"back\" value=\"Back\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: left !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                                                    <input type=\"button\" name=\"tip\" value=\"Hint\"\n                                   class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton wpProQuiz_TipButton\"\n                                   style=\"float: left !important; display: inline-block; margin-right: 10px !important;\">\n                                                <input type=\"button\" name=\"check\" value=\"Check\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\"\n                               style=\"float: right !important; margin-right: 10px !important; display: none;\">\n                        <input type=\"button\" name=\"next\" value=\"Next\"\n                               class=\"wpProQuiz_button wpProQuiz_QuestionButton\" style=\"float: right; display: none;\">\n\n                        <div style=\"clear: both;\"><\/div>\n\n                        \n                    <\/li>\n\n                            <\/ol>\n                    <\/div>\n                <\/div>\n                <script type=\"text\/javascript\">\n            window.wpProQuizInitList = window.wpProQuizInitList || [];\n\n            window.wpProQuizInitList.push({\n                id: '#wpProQuiz_215',\n                init: {\n                    quizId: 215,\n                    mode: 2,\n                    globalPoints: 18,\n                    timelimit: 0,\n                    resultsGrade: [0,41,66,86],\n                    bo: 7560,\n                    qpp: 0,\n                    catPoints: {\"138\":12,\"98\":6},\n                    formPos: 0,\n                    lbn: \"Finish quiz\",\n                    json: {\"6699\":{\"type\":\"cloze_answer\",\"id\":6699,\"catId\":138,\"points\":[1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1],\"correct\":[[\"orologi\"],[\"amiche\"],[\"parchi\"],[\"medici\"],[\"negozi\"],[\"zii\"],[\"citt\\u00e0\",\"citta'\"],[\"film\"],[\"le tradizioni\"],[\"il problema\"],[\"uomini\"],[\"braccia\"]]},\"6700\":{\"type\":\"multiple\",\"id\":6700,\"catId\":98,\"points\":[0,1,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,1,0],\"correct\":[0,1,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,0,1,1,0,0,0,1,0]}}                }\n            });\n        <\/script>\n        \n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"faq\">Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">These questions about italian nouns come up in every A2-B1 cohort. The gender system, the -ema family, and the invariable foreign words are documented in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/vocabolario\/nome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani vocabolario entry on nome<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<div class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-1\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why is problema masculine if it ends in -a?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Because it comes from Greek. Italian kept a small family of -ema and -ma nouns (problema, tema, sistema, poema, teorema, programma, diploma, dramma) as masculine, with plural in -i. The article and adjective still take the masculine form: il problema grande, i problemi grandi. A useful test: if the -ma word has an obvious English equivalent (programme, problem, system, drama), it is almost always masculine in Italian.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-2\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How do I know the plural of words ending in -co or -go?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Check where the stress falls. If the stress is on the second-to-last syllable (gioco, albergo, fuoco), keep the hard sound: giochi, alberghi, fuochi. If the stress is further back (medico, asparago, sindaco), drop the h: medici, asparagi, sindaci. There are exceptions (amici, greci, porci, nemici), but the stress test catches most cases. Saying the word out loud usually points to the right spelling.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-3\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Do Italian foreign words take an -s in the plural?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>No. Italian borrows the singular form and keeps it for the plural. One film, two film. One computer, two computer. Only the article shifts: il bar, i bar; lo sport, gli sport. Writing i films or two computers is an anglicism that teachers will mark. The same rule applies to all italian nouns ending in a consonant or borrowed wholesale from another language.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-4\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">What is the plural of uomo?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Uomini. It is irregular: the stem changes and the ending moves from -o to -ini. The same pattern affects dio, plural dei. These two italian nouns are the classic one-offs you memorise on day one and never question again. The article also shifts in a special way: l&#8217;uomo, gli uomini; il dio, gli dei.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-5\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Why does le braccia end in -a if it is plural?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>A small group of body-part italian nouns has a double plural. The masculine il braccio (the arm) takes two different plurals: le braccia (feminine, for the arms of the body) and i bracci (masculine, for the arms of a river, a chair, a machine). The feminine plural in -a is the Latin neuter plural, kept alive only in these words: braccia, dita, labbra, uova, paia, miglia.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-6\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">Is citt\u00e0 always feminine?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes. All italian nouns ending in an accented final vowel are feminine and invariable: la citt\u00e0, le citt\u00e0; la libert\u00e0, le libert\u00e0; la verit\u00e0, le verit\u00e0; la virt\u00f9, le virt\u00f9. The gender is locked, the form never changes, only the article marks the number. The handful of masculine accented nouns are foreign or proper names (il caff\u00e8, il t\u00e8, il pap\u00e0) and they too stay invariable in the plural.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div id=\"faq-n38288-7\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h3 class=\"rank-math-question \">How should I memorise the gender of -e nouns?<\/h3>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Learn them in a three-word chunk: article plus noun plus a short adjective. Il fiore rosso, la chiave nuova, il ponte lungo, la notte buia, il fiume largo, la classe piccola. The article and the adjective give your memory two anchor points instead of one. Flashcards with a sample sentence beat bare lists every time, especially for italian nouns where the ending gives you no clue.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"related\">Related guides<\/h2>\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-plurals-three-rules\/\">Italian Plurals: The 3 Rules That Cover Almost Everything (A1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-plurals-che-ghi\/\">Italian -che and -ghi: Spelling Rules for Plurals (A1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-neuter-plurals\/\">Italian Neuter Plurals: Uovo, Uova, Braccio, Braccia (B1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-fare-il-profession\/\">Italian Fare il: How to Say Your Job with the Article (B1)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.treccani.it\/vocabolario\/nome\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Treccani vocabolario: nome<\/a>, institutional reference on the Italian noun system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\ud83d\udd0d In short. Italian nouns carry two grammatical tags that drive the rest of the sentence: gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural). Get those right and the article, the adjective, and the past participle all fall into line. Italian nouns ending in -o are usually masculine, those ending in -a are usually &#8230; <a title=\"Italian Nouns: 7 Rules for Gender and Plurals (A2-B1)\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/italian-nouns\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Italian Nouns: 7 Rules for Gender and Plurals (A2-B1)\">Read more \u226b<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10020,"featured_media":38309,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_bbp_topic_count":0,"_bbp_reply_count":0,"_bbp_total_topic_count":0,"_bbp_total_reply_count":0,"_bbp_voice_count":0,"_bbp_anonymous_reply_count":0,"_bbp_topic_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_reply_count_hidden":0,"_bbp_forum_subforum_count":0,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1864],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-38288","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-a2","no-featured-image-padding","pmpro-has-access"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38288","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10020"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=38288"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38288\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":62314,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/38288\/revisions\/62314"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/38309"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=38288"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=38288"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dante-learning.com\/eng\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=38288"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}