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Master Italian articulated prepositions by combining simple prepositions like di, a, da, in, su with definite articles such as il, la, lo; learn forms like nel, sul, dagli, and special cases like con il ➝ col.
  1. The articulated preposition is formed by combining a simple preposition with a definite article.
  2. The prepositions per, tra, fra do not combine with the article and remain unchanged.
 IlL'LoLaIGliLe
DiDelDell'DelloDellaDeiDegliDelle
AAlAll'AlloAllaAiAgliAlle
DaDalDall'DalloDallaDaiDagliDalle
InNelNell'NelloNellaNeiNegliNelle
SuSulSull'SulloSullaSuiSugliSulle

Exceptions!

  1. "Con" only combines with "il, i": "col, coi".

Exercise 1: Le preposizioni articolate

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

sugli, al, sul, nell', sulla, nei

1.
C'è nebbia ... alberi la mattina.
(There is fog on the trees in the morning.)
2.
Andiamo ... parco dopo la pioggia.
(Let's go to the park after the rain.)
3.
Camminiamo ... boschi durante il beltempo.
(We walk in the woods during fine weather.)
4.
Andiamo ... mare con la famiglia.
(Let's go to the sea with the family.)
5.
Il sole splende ... tetto della casa.
(The sun shines on the roof of the house.)
6.
L'ombrello è ...auto.
(The umbrella is in the car.)
7.
La neve cade ... montagna alta.
(The snow falls on the high mountain.)
8.
Il vento soffia ... campo.
(The wind blows over the field.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. La temperatura è molto alta oggi, ma il vento soffia ___ lago.

(The temperature is very high today, but the wind blows ___ lake.)

2. Domani andiamo ___ mercato vicino alla piazza principale.

(Tomorrow we go ___ market near the main square.)

3. Ho preso l’ombrello ___ macchina perché pioveva molto.

(I took the umbrella ___ car because it was raining a lot.)

4. Vorrei andare ___ amici al parco questo pomeriggio.

(I would like to go ___ friends to the park this afternoon.)

5. Il sole splende ___ montagne vicine alla città.

(The sun shines ___ mountains near the city.)

6. La casa ___ miei amici è vicino al fiume.

(The house ___ my friends is near the river.)

Understanding Italian Articulated Prepositions

This lesson focuses on "Le preposizioni articolate," or articulated prepositions, an essential part of Italian grammar for beginners at the A1 level. Articulated prepositions form when a simple preposition combines with a definite article, creating a unified word that is used frequently in everyday Italian.

What Are Articulated Prepositions?

In Italian, simple prepositions like di, a, da, in, su combine with definite articles such as il, l', lo, la, i, gli, le to form articulated prepositions. For example:

  • di + il = del
  • a + la = alla
  • in + l' = nell'

Usage Table Overview

The lesson provides a comprehensive table showing how each simple preposition merges with the different definite articles depending on gender and number:

  • Il (masculine singular), L' (before vowels), Lo (masculine singular before s+consonant, z, ps, gn), La (feminine singular), I (masculine plural), Gli (masculine plural before vowels or special consonants), Le (feminine plural).

Important Notes

  • The prepositions per, tra, fra do not combine with articles and remain unchanged.
  • The preposition con usually stays separate except when combined with il and i, forming col and coi.

Example Phrases

Here are some practical examples to illustrate the use of articulated prepositions:

  • La temperatura è molto alta oggi, ma il vento soffia sul lago.
  • Domani andiamo al mercato vicino alla piazza principale.
  • Ho preso l’ombrello dalla macchina perché pioveva molto.
  • Vorrei andare con gli amici al parco questo pomeriggio.
  • Il sole splende sulle montagne vicine alla città.
  • La casa dei miei amici è vicino al fiume.

Relevant Differences Between English and Italian

Unlike English, where prepositions and articles stay separate (e.g., "of the," "to the"), Italian often merges them into a single word. This blending affects pronunciation and spelling, as seen in examples like del (of the) and alla (to the). English speakers should pay attention to these formations because they are used extensively and convey meaning compactly.

Useful phrases to practice include:

  • del – of the (masculine singular)
  • alla – to the (feminine singular)
  • sul – on the (masculine singular)
  • con gli – with the (masculine plural)

Mastering these will enhance your fluency and understanding of Italian sentence structure.

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Fabio Pirioni

Bachelor in Humanities

University of Udine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 11:23