Italian Articulated Prepositions: Rules, Examples and Exercises

Italian articulated prepositions are formed when certain simple prepositions combine with a definite article. They are extremely common in written and spoken Italian and allow us to express place, origin, possession, direction and many other relationships.

For example:

• Il libro è sul tavolo. – The book is on the table.
• Vado alla stazione. – I am going to the station.
• Le chiavi sono nella borsa. – The keys are in the bag.
• Parliamo degli studenti. – We are talking about the students.

In this guide, you will learn how Italian articulated prepositions are formed, when to use them and how to avoid the most common mistakes.

If you need a general introduction, start with our complete guide to Italian prepositions. You can also review the individual uses of di, a, da, in, con, su, per, tra and fra in our guide to Italian simple prepositions.

What Are Italian Articulated Prepositions?

An articulated preposition, called a preposizione articolata in Italian, is created by combining a simple preposition with a definite article.

For example:

• di + il = del
• a + la = alla
• da + gli = dagli
• in + lo = nello
• su + le = sulle

The articulated form agrees with the gender and number of the noun that follows it. To choose the correct form, you must therefore know which definite article the noun requires.

Which Prepositions Combine with Italian Articles?

The five simple prepositions that regularly combine with definite articles are:

di – a – da – in – su

The prepositions per, tra and fra do not combine with articles:

• per il corso, not pel corso in normal contemporary Italian;
• tra gli studenti;
• fra le persone.

The preposition con can form col and coi, but the separate forms con il and con i are very common in contemporary Italian. The other possible combinations with con are normally written separately:

• con la mia insegnante;
• con gli studenti;
• con le amiche.

Italian Definite Articles: A Quick Review

Before forming articulated prepositions, it is useful to remember the Italian definite articles.

Complete Table of Italian Articulated Prepositions

DI + Article: DEL, DELLO, DELL’, DELLA, DEI, DEGLI, DELLE

The preposition di can express possession, specification, origin, subject or quantity. When the following noun requires a definite article, di combines with that article.

• Il quaderno del professore.
  The teacher’s notebook.
• Il nome dello studente.
  The student’s name.
• La porta dell’aula.
  The classroom door.
• Il centro della città.
  The city centre.
• I libri dei ragazzi.
  The boys’ books.
• Le domande degli studenti.
  The students’ questions.
• Gli orari delle lezioni.
  The lesson schedules.

A + Article: AL, ALLO, ALL’, ALLA, AI, AGLI, ALLE

The preposition a often indicates destination, position, time or an indirect object.

• Vado al cinema.
  I am going to the cinema.
• Parlo allo studente.
  I am speaking to the student.
• Andiamo all’università.
  We are going to the university.
• Vado alla stazione.
  I am going to the station.
• Scrivo ai miei amici.
  I am writing to my friends.
• Spiego l’esercizio agli studenti.
  I explain the exercise to the students.
• La lezione comincia alle nove.
  The lesson starts at nine.

DA + Article: DAL, DALLO, DALL’, DALLA, DAI, DAGLI, DALLE

The preposition da can express origin, movement from a place, movement towards a person or professional, and the beginning of a period.

• Vengo dal centro.
  I come from the city centre.
• Esco dallo studio.
  I am leaving the office.
• Torno dall’università.
  I am returning from the university.
• Arrivo dalla stazione.
  I am arriving from the station.
• Ho ricevuto una risposta dai professori.
  I received an answer from the teachers.
• Ho imparato molto dagli insegnanti.
  I learned a lot from the teachers.
• Torno dalle vacanze.
  I am returning from holiday.

IN + Article: NEL, NELLO, NELL’, NELLA, NEI, NEGLI, NELLE

The preposition in generally expresses position inside a place, movement into a place or a period of time.

• Il libro è nel cassetto.
  The book is in the drawer.
• Sono nello studio.
  I am in the office.
• Gli studenti sono nell’aula.
  The students are in the classroom.
• Le chiavi sono nella borsa.
  The keys are in the bag.
• Ci sono molti musei nei quartieri centrali.
  There are many museums in the central districts.
• Vivono negli Stati Uniti.
  They live in the United States.
• Studiamo nelle aule del primo piano.
  We study in the classrooms on the first floor.

SU + Article: SUL, SULLO, SULL’, SULLA, SUI, SUGLI, SULLE

The preposition su commonly indicates position on a surface, a topic or an approximate quantity.

• Il telefono è sul tavolo.
  The telephone is on the table.
• Il libro è sullo scaffale.
  The book is on the shelf.
• C’è una macchia sull’abito.
  There is a stain on the dress.
• La fotografia è sulla parete.
  The photograph is on the wall.
• I documenti sono sui tavoli.
  The documents are on the tables.
• Ho letto un articolo sugli studenti internazionali.
  I read an article about international students.
• I libri sono sulle sedie.
  The books are on the chairs.

When Should You Use an Articulated Preposition?

Use an articulated preposition when the noun normally requires a definite article.

• Vado al supermercato.
• Il libro è sulla scrivania.
• Parliamo degli esercizi.

Do not use an articulated preposition when the noun does not require an article.

• Vado a scuola.
• Vivo in Italia.
• Sono di Milano.

Compare these examples:

• Vado a scuola. – I go to school.
• Vado alla scuola di mia figlia. – I go to my daughter’s school.

In the first sentence, scuola refers generally to the activity or institution. In the second, it refers to a specific school, so the definite article is necessary.

Common Mistakes with Italian Articulated Prepositions

Writing the preposition and article separately

• Incorrect: Vado a il cinema.
• Correct: Vado al cinema.

• Incorrect: Il libro è su la scrivania.
• Correct: Il libro è sulla scrivania.

Choosing the wrong article

• Incorrect: Parlo al studente.
• Correct: Parlo allo studente.

• Incorrect: Scrivo ai studenti.
• Correct: Scrivo agli studenti.

Using an article when it is not necessary

• Incorrect: Vivo nella Italia.
• Correct: Vivo in Italia.

• Incorrect: Vado alla casa.
• Correct: Vado a casa.

Italian Articulated Prepositions: Exercise 1

Combine the simple preposition and definite article.

1. di + il = ______
2. a + la = ______
3. da + gli = ______
4. in + lo = ______
5. su + le = ______
6. di + l’ = ______
7. a + i = ______
8. in + gli = ______

Check the answers

1. del
2. alla
3. dagli
4. nello
5. sulle
6. dell’
7. ai
8. negli

Italian Articulated Prepositions: Exercise 2

Complete each sentence with the correct articulated preposition.

1. Il libro è ___ tavolo. (su + il)
2. Domani andiamo ___ stazione. (a + la)
3. Le chiavi sono ___ borsa. (in + la)
4. Parliamo ___ studenti. (di + gli)
5. Vengo ___ ufficio. (da + l’)
6. La lezione comincia ___ nove. (a + le)
7. Il quaderno è ___ studente. (di + lo)
8. Le fotografie sono ___ pareti. (su + le)

Check the answers

1. sul
2. alla
3. nella
4. degli
5. dall’
6. alle
7. dello
8. sulle

Italian Articulated Prepositions: Exercise 3

Choose the correct option.

1. Il telefono è sul / su il tavolo.
2. Vado alla / a la stazione.
3. Gli studenti sono nell’ / in l’ aula.
4. Parliamo dei / di i corsi.
5. Vivo in Italia / nell’Italia.
6. Vado a scuola / alla scuola ogni mattina.

Check the answers

1. sul
2. alla
3. nell’
4. dei
5. in Italia
6. a scuola

Interactive Italian Articulated Prepositions Exercise

Now practise the Italian articulated prepositions with this interactive activity. Read each sentence carefully and choose the correct combination of preposition and definite article.

How to Learn Italian Articulated Prepositions

The best way to learn articulated prepositions is not simply to memorise the table. Practise them in complete expressions and real situations:

• andare al cinema;
• essere nella classe;
• parlare degli studenti;
• venire dalla stazione;
• mettere il libro sul tavolo.

You can find more activities on our Italian prepositions exercises page and review the individual uses of each preposition in our guide to Italian simple prepositions.

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