Italian nouns, agreement and pronouns
Choose articles, agreement and pronouns that make Italian descriptions clear.
Section LANG-NOUNS · Italian nouns, agreement and pronouns
Exam scope and assessment notes
All Italian passages, prompts, model answers, listening scripts and tasks are original StudyForA material, not Cambridge assessment content. Cambridge's separate 2028 vocabulary spreadsheet is linked through its subject page but has not been reconciled word by word. Grammar groups need item-by-item specialist checking, and an Italian-language teacher should review the original Italian before publication is described as complete. Browser speech synthesis is not Cambridge audio and cannot guarantee a regional accent, natural pace or pronunciation. Speaking is rehearsal and self-review, not a centre assessment or examiner mark; writing answers are self-checked, not Cambridge-marked. No complete timed specimen or 130-hour course is included. Confirm your exam year, entry option and centre availability with Cambridge and your school. Use the 2025–2027 or 2028–2030 paper lesson that matches your exam year. Cambridge lists 7164 as available in a limited number of administrative zones; for June, the published notice names zone 3 and centres in Oman and UAE. Confirm the applicable series and entry with your centre.
Before you begin
Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.
Quick readiness check
Choose the correct phrase.
What you will learn
- Use definite, indefinite and partitive articles with common nouns.
- Match adjective gender and number, including common position changes.
- Use demonstratives and possessives with the appropriate article pattern.
- Choose object, reflexive, relative, interrogative and indefinite pronouns in context.
Build the noun phrase
Italian nouns have grammatical gender and number. Articles and many adjectives agree: «il libro nuovo», «la casa nuova», «i libri nuovi», «le case nuove». Some irregular plurals must be learned with the noun, such as «la mano / le mani».
Use definite, indefinite and partitive articles: «il libro», «un libro», «del pane». Adjectives usually follow the noun, but common adjectives such as «bello» and «buono» can change position and form. Demonstratives include «questo/quello».
Track people and things with pronouns
Possessives usually take an article («la mia amica»), while singular close family terms often omit it («mia sorella»). Object pronouns may come before a finite verb or join an infinitive/imperative; check who or what each one refers to.
The syllabus includes relative and interrogative pronouns, reflexives, «ci» and «ne». «Ci vado» means I go there; «ne prendo due» means I take two of them. The right choice depends on whether the sentence points to a place or a quantity/source.
Sources for this lesson
- Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Italian 7164 subject page
- Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Italian 7164 syllabus for exams in 2025–2027
- Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Italian 7164 syllabus update for 2025–2027
- Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Italian 7164 syllabus for exams in 2028–2030
- Cambridge IGCSE (9–1) Italian 7164 2028 vocabulary list
Pause and explain
In «Ne compro due», what does «ne» usually stand for?
Worked example
Correct and clarify: «La mio sorella compra un mele rosso. Ne mangia la mela.»
Show the worked solution
- Match the possessive and article with feminine «sorella».
- Make «una mela» and the adjective agree.
- Use «ne» only if the quantity or source is clear; otherwise name the object.
Answer «Mia sorella compra una mela rossa. Mangia la mela.» The singular close-family phrase omits the article; «una» and «rossa» agree with «mela». «Ne» would need a clear quantity or source, such as «ne mangia una».
From guided practice to a new situation
Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.
Describe two objects in a classroom using articles, colour adjectives, one demonstrative and a possessive.
Give me a hint
Check each noun's gender and number first.
Compare my reasoning
- Choose the noun and article.
- Add an agreeing adjective.
- Use «questo/quella» and «mio/suo» to identify things.
Example: «Questa penna blu è mia. Quei quaderni nuovi sono della mia compagna.»
Look for these in your work
- Uses suitable articles
- Matches adjective agreement
- Uses demonstratives and possession
Clarify this sentence if a student buys three pears and eats one: «Compro le pere e ne mangio.»
Give me a hint
Use «ne» with a stated quantity.
Compare my reasoning
- Keep the bought item plural.
- Add the quantity after «ne».
- Check the number of pears eaten.
«Compro le pere e ne mangio una.» «Ne» refers to the pears; «una» states that one is eaten.
Look for these in your work
- Uses the plural item
- Makes the reference clear
- States the quantity
Describe a lost object in Italian using a demonstrative, two agreeing adjectives and a relative clause with «che».
Give me a hint
Name its appearance and a feature that identifies it.
Compare my reasoning
- Use a demonstrative and noun.
- Add two matching adjectives.
- Add a «che» clause with a distinguishing detail.
Example: «Questa piccola borsa nera è mia; ha un'etichetta che dice “Luna”.» The relative clause describes the label; «mia» refers to «borsa».
Look for these in your work
- Uses a demonstrative
- Agrees both adjectives
- Adds an identifying relative clause
Common mistakes
- Forgetting irregular plural forms
- Using a masculine article with a feminine noun
- Adding the article before every singular family term
- Using «ci» or «ne» without a clear reference
What can you explain now?
What needs to agree with «le case»?
Compare with the explanation
A feminine plural article and adjective
For example, «le case bianche» has matching gender and number.
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Make it stick
Before leaving italian nouns, agreement and pronouns, explain one idea from memory, answer the checkpoint and name one point to practise again.
If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.