Possessive adjectives in Italian - Gli aggettivi possessivi in italiano

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We are going to talk about possessive adjectives in Italian. Possessive adjectives are words that tell us who owns something. In Italian, possessive adjectives change depending on the person (io, tu, lui/lei, noi, voi, loro) and the gender and number of the noun they refer to.


When to use possessive adjectives

1. With articles: possessive adjectives usually take the definite article. 

For example
Il mio libro 
La mia penna 

2. Exceptions for family members:

- Singular: We do not use the article with family members in the singular unless there is an adjective after the noun.

For example
Lei è mia sorella (she is my sister)
Lei è la mia sorella preferita (she is my favourite sister)

- Plural: When we refer to family members in the plural, we must use the article.

For example
I miei fratelli 
Le nostre sorelle 

3. Loro (they): 'loro' always takes the article, whether singular or plural.

For example:  
La loro casa (their house).
Le loro case (their houses).

4. Affective and altered forms: We can use the article with affective forms, such as 'il mio papà' (my dad), and with altered forms, such as 'la mia sorellina' (my little sister).

  • "Mio papà": This is the standard way of saying "my dad" in Italian. When talking about singular family members, the definite article (the equivalent of "the") is generally not used before the possessive adjective (mio, tuo, etc.). So "mio papà" simply means "my dad" and it's the neutral, everyday way of saying it.
  • "Il mio papà": Adding the article "il" before "mio papà" can give a sense of emphasis or affection, almost as if you're saying "my dear dad" or "my very own dad" in English. It's used to add more emotion or to emphasise the importance of the person you're talking about. 

The exceptions for family members are particularly important: in the singular the article is not used, whereas in the plural it is always necessary. Also, the personal pronoun 'loro' is a special case that always requires the article.

To conclude

In summary, possessive adjectives are essential for expressing to whom something belongs in Italian. It is important to remember that these adjectives change according to the person and gender of the noun they refer to.

The exceptions for family members are particularly important: in the singular the article is not used, whereas in the plural it is always necessary. Also, the personal pronoun 'loro' is a special case that always requires the article.

Practising the use of possessive adjectives will help you to communicate more clearly and precisely. Remember to practise examples and sentences in your everyday life to improve your language skills. 

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Learning Italian on your own requires commitment and dedication, but with the right strategies and resources, you can achieve your goal. Remember to have fun during the process and celebrate every little bit of progress. Enjoy your journey towards learning Italian!

If you would like to expand on any of the concepts or would like to speak to a native speaker teacher qualified in teaching Italian to foreigners, please contact me at info@appylanguage.com. I will be happy to meet you and guide you in a one-to-one online session. Happy learning!

If you have any questions or would like to share your learning experience, please leave a comment below. I'm curious to know how you are progressing on your language journey!

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