In English the definite article (larticolo determinativo) has only one form: the. In Italian, l’articolo determinativo has different forms according to the gender, number, and first letter of the noun or adjective it precedes.

i ragazzi e le ragazze (the boys and girls)

il quaderno e la penna (the notebook and pen)

Here are some rules for using definite articles:

1. Lo (pl. gli) is used before masculine nouns beginning with s consonant or z.

2. Il (pl. i) is used before masculine nouns beginning with all other consonants.

3. L’ (pl. gli) is used before masculine nouns beginning with a vowel.

4. La (pl. le) is used before feminine nouns beginning with any consonant.

5. L’ (pl. le) is used before feminine nouns beginning with a vowel.

The article agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies and is repeated before each noun.

la Coca