NOUNS





NOUNS

The noun, in italian il nome or il sostantivo, is the part of the speech that indicates:

- a person
- an animal
- a thing
- a place
- an idea
- a feeling
- a value
- an ideal
- an action

The noun plays a fondamental role in the speech, because it consents to identify what the sentence is about. With nouns, we can point all the aspects of reality, both material and immaterial.


•    Concrete nouns and abstract nouns

Nouns indicate things that can be seen and touched, like persons, animals, plants and objects.

Are nouns, for example: bambino (childern), nonno (grandfather), coniglio (rabbit), cane (dog), tappeto (carpet), fiore (flower), pino (pine), orologio (watch).

Nouns of things that can be seen and touched are called concrete nouns, nomi concreti.

Nouns indicate also things that can be felt or imagined, such as feelings, values, moods  and ideals.

Are nuons, for example: bellezza (beauty), giustizia (justice), freddo (cold), caldo (hot), felicità (happiness), paura (fear), noia (bordo), dolore (sorrow).

Nouns of things that can be felt or imagined are called abstract nouns, nomi astratti.


•    Common nouns and proper nouns

Nouns can be common, nomi comuni, when they refer to something in a general way.

Are common nouns, for example: città (city), piazza (square), mamma (mother), libro (book), macchina (car).

Giovanni e Lidia sono andati in città. (Giovanni and Lidia are gone to town.)
In piazza c’è un concerto. (There is a concert downtown.)
La mamma ha cucinato una torta. (Mum made a cake.)
Sto leggendo un libro bellissimo. (I’m reading a wonderful book.)
La tua macchina va davvero veloce! (Your car is really fast!)

Nouns can be proper, nomi propri, when they refer to something specific and detectable. Proper nouns must be written with a capital letter.

Are proper nouns, for example: Francesca, Venezia, Divina Commedia, Ferrari, Messico.

Mia sorella si chiama Francesca. (My sister’s name is Francesca.)
Venezia è una città splendida. (Venice is a wonderful city.)
Hai studiato la Divina Commedia?(Did you study the Divina Commedia?)
Sogno di guidare una Ferrari rossa. (I wish to drive a flame-red Ferrari.)
La prossima estate andremo in vacanza in Messico. (Next summer we’re going on holiday in Mexico.)


•    Masculine nouns and feminine nouns

Nouns can be masculine, nomi maschili, when they refer to male people, male animals or things having male gender.

Are masculine nouns, for example: il sole (the sun), lo specchio (the mirror), il letto (the bed), il tavolo (the table), il maglione (the sweater), lo zaino (the schoolbag).

Nouns can be feminine, nomi femminili, when they refer to female people, female animals or things having female gender.

Are feminime nouns, for example: la luna (the moon), la stazione (the station), la sedia (the chair), la borsa (the bag), l’arancia (the orange), la matita (the pencil), la radio (the radio).


Are usually masculine the following nouns:

• the ones that end in -o: il giardino (the garden), il vaso (the vase), il cuscino (the pillow), il coltello (the knife).
with the exception of: la mano (the hand), la radio (the radio), l’auto (the car), etc.
names of the months and of the days of the week: gennaio (january), giugno (june), lunedì (Monday), venerdì (Friday).
with the exception of: la domenica (Sunday).
the names of mountains, rivers, lakes: il Po, l’Appennino, il Garda, l’Everest.
with the exception of: le Alpi, la Senna, ecc.
the names of the States that doesn’t end in -a: il Cile, il Texas, il Perù, il Portogallo.
foreign names that end with a consonant: lo sport, il bar, il camion.

Are usually feminine the following nouns:

the ones that end in -a: la casa (the home), la vestaglia (the dressing gown), la pentola (the pot), la spugna (the sponge).
with the exception of: il papa (the pope), il poeta (the poet), il giornalista (the journalist), etc. and some proper names: Mattia, Luca, Andrea, etc.
the ones that end in -i: la tesi (the tesi), la crisi (the crisis).
with the exception of: il brindisi (the toast), il bisturi (the bistoury), etc.
the ones that end in -gione, -sione, -zione, -ie, -igine: la religione (the religion), la pensione (the retirement), la stazione (the station).
the ones that end in -tà, -tù or with stressed vowels: la città (the city), la virtù (the virtue), la tribù (the tribe).
with the exception of: il caffè, il tè.
names of cities, regions, islands: Milano, Parigi, Roma, Lombardia, Sardegna.

 

•    From masculine to feminine: only people’s and animal’s nouns can change gender

 Usually, noun’s root remains unchanged: only the ending can be modified. Here’s how:

Masculine

Feminine

Ending in -o: nonno (grandfather), gatto (cat)

                     avvocato (lawyer)

Ending in -a: nonna (grandmather), gatta (cat)

Ending in -essa: avvocatessa (lawyer)

Ending in -e: signore (gentleman)

                     professore (teacher)

Ending in -a: signora (lady)

Ending in -essa: professoressa (teacher)

Ending in -a: poeta (poet)

Ending in -essa: poetessa (poet)

Ending in -tore: attore (actor)

Ending in -trice: attrice (actress)

 

IMPORTANT:

 - Some nouns have the same ending both for masculine and feminine forms: il giornalista (the journalist), la giornalista (the journalist); il nipote (the nephew), la nipote (the niece).

 - Some nouns have irregular feminine forms: cane, cagna (male dog, female dog); dio, dea (male god, female god); eroe, eroina (male hero, female hero).

 - Some nouns have feminine forms completely different from masculine ones: uomo, donna (man, woman); marito, moglie (husband, wife); fratello, sorella (brother, sister); frate, suora (friar, noon); etc.

 - Some animal’s nouns are used both for male specimen and female specimen: aquila (eagle), corvo (raven), volpe (fox), squalo (shark), serpente (snake). In this case gender is identified through other parts of the speech (articles, adjective, past participle).

 
•    Singular nouns, plural nouns and collective nouns

 Nouns can be singular, nomi singolari, when refer to one subject: a person, an animal, a thing, an idea, etc.

Are singular nouns, for example: giornale (newspaper), mattina (morning), sciarpa (scarf), quaderno (notebook), figlio (son).

Devo ancora comprare il giornale di oggi. (I haven’t bought today’s newspaper yet.)
Di mattina faccio sempre fatica a svegliarmi. (In the morning I always get up with effort.)
Mi piace molto la tua sciarpa rossa. (I like very much your red scarf.)
Aprite il quaderno e iniziate a scrivere. (Open your notebook and begin to write.)
Mio figlio è molto educato. (My son is very polite.)

Nouns can be plural, nomi plurali, when they refer to two or more subjects: two or more people, animals, things, ideas, actions, etc.

Are plural nous, for example: giornali (newspapers), mattine (mornings), sciarpe (scarfs), quaderni (notebooks), figli (soons).

Ho un sacco di vecchi giornali. (I have lots of old newspapers.)
Queste mattine fa ancora molto freddo. (In these mornings the weather is still very cold.)
Le tue sciarpe sono sempre così colorate! (Your scarfs are always so colored!)
Hai comprato i quaderni nuovi? (Did you buy new exercise books?)
I miei figli sono delle pesti. (My sons are real pests.)

Nouns can be collective, nomi collettivi, when they refer to a group of people, animals o things. Collective nouns can be both singolar and plural.

Are collective nouns, for example: classe (class), bosco (wood), mandria (herd); classi (classes), boschi (woods), mandrie (herds).

La mia classe andrà presto in gita a Torino. (My class is going soon to Turin for a school trip.)
Il bosco, di notte, era davvero inquietante. (At night the wood is very disturbing).
La mandria è andata a pascolare lontano da qui. (The herd is pasturing far from here.)
Tutte le classi della scuola sono radunate in auditorio. (All the classes are in the auditorium.)
Vogliono tagliare tutti quei boschi per costruire una nuova zona residenziale. (They want to cut down all of those woods to build a new residential area.)
Quel signore è proprietario di numerose mandrie di buoi. (That man owns many herds of oxen.)

 

•    From singular to plural

Usually, noun’s root remains unchanged: only the ending can be modified. Here’s how:

Singular

Plural

Ending in -o: quaderno (notebook)

Ending in -i: quaderni (notebooks)

Ending in -a, feminine: donna (woman)

Ending in -e: donne (women)

Ending in -a, masculine: pirata (pirate)

Ending in -i: pirati (pirats)

Ending in -e, masculine, feminine:
madre (mother),
padre (father)

Ending in -i:
madri (mothers), padri (fathers)

There are many exceptions:

Singolare

Plurale

Ending in -ca, -ga, masculine: duca (duke), collega (workmate)

                            feminine: oca (goose), collega         (workmate)

Ending in -chi, -ghi: duchi (dukes), colleghi (workmates)

                   -che, -ghe: oche (geese), colleghe (workmates)

Ending in -cìa: farmacìa (pharmacy)

               -gìa: bugìa (lie)

               -chìa: monarchìa (monarchy)

 

Ending in -cìe: farmacìe (pharmacies)

                 -gìe: bugìe (lies)

                 -chìe: monarchìe (monarchies)

Ending in -cia: pancia (belly)

               -gia: frangia (fringe)

*only if there is a consonant before -cia and -gia

 

Ending in -cia: camicia (shirt)

               -gia: valigia (suitcase)

*only if there is a vowel before -cia and -gia

Ending in -ce: pance (bellies)

                 -ge: frange (fringes)

 

 

Ending in -cie: camicie (shirts)

               -gie: valigie (suitcases)

Ending in -co, -go: banco (desk), albergo (hotel)

*only in paroxytonal words

 

Ending in -co, -go: sindaco (mayor), asparago (asparagus)

*only in proparoxytonal words.

Ending in -chi, -ghi: banchi (desks), alberghi (hotels)

 

Ending in -ci, -gi: sindaci (mayors), asparagi (asparagus)

 

Ending in -logo: sociologo (sociologist)

*with words referring to people

 

Ending in -logo: dialogo (dialogue)

*with words referring to things

Ending in -logi: sociologi (sociologists)

 

 

Ending in -loghi: dialoghi (dialogues)

Ending in -scia: fascia (belt)

Ending in -sce: fasce (belts)

 

IMPORTANT:

- Some nouns are invariable: they have the same form both for singular and for plural.
Are invariable, for example: il re, i re (the king, the kings); la città, le città (the city, the cities); il brindisi, i brindisi (the toast, the toasts).

- Some nouns lack in singular form or in plural form: they are called nomi difettivi.

Some nouns don’t have the plural form, but only the singular one: they are called difettivi del plurale.
For example:

latte (milk), miele (honey), caffè (coffee); morbillo (measles), peste (pest), colera (cholera); bontà (kindness), codardia (cowardice), coraggio (courage); fame (hunger), sete (thirst), sonno (sleep); piombo (lead), oro (gold), argento (silver).

Some nouns don’t have the singular form, but only the plural one: they are called difettivi del singolare.
For example:

i pantaloni (the trousers), le forbici (the scissors), gli occhiali (the eyeglasses).

- Some nouns are overabundant, sovrabbondanti: they have different forms for the singular and for the plural. Attention: often the plural forms have different meanings!


•    Primitive nouns and derived nouns

Nouns can be primitive, nomi primitivi, when they don’t derive from other nouns; they are composed only by the root and the ending.

Are primitive nouns, for example: scuol-a (school), latt-e (milk), can-e (dog), cart-a (paper), giornal-e (magazine).

Maria arriva a scuola sempre in ritardo. (Maria always arrives late at school.)
Assaggia il latte: è freschissimo! (Taste the milk: it’s very fresh!)
Devo ancora portare a spasso il cane. (I haven’t taken the dog out yet)
Andresti a comprarmi una risma di carta, per favore? (Should you go and buy me a ream, please?)
Il giornale di oggi è pieno di brutte notizie. (Today’s newspaper is full of awful news.)

Nouns can be derived, nomi derivati, when a prefix or a suffix is added to primitive nouns. Attention: usually, the meaning of a derivate noun is totally different from the meaning of his primitive noun!

Are derived nouns, for example: scol-ar-o (schoolboy), latt-ai-o (milkman), can-il-e (doghouse), cart-oleri-a (stationery shop), giornal-ist-a (journalist).

Gli scolari di quinta superiore si preparano all’esame di maturità. (Fifth year schoolboys are studing for final exams.)
Il lattaio ha appena consegnato sei bottiglie di latte. (The milkman has just carried six bottle of milk.)
Martina è appena diventata volontaria al canile di Monza. (Martina has just become a volounteer at the doghouse.)
La cartoleria all’angolo vende anche libri scolastici. (The stationery shop on the corner sells schoolbooks.)
Un giornalista sta intervistando delle persone per un nuovo servizio. (A journalist is interviewing someone for a new article.)

 

•    Altered nouns

Nouns are altered when they contain a suffix that in part modifies its meaning. Can be added suffixes that give the noun an idea of smallness, greatness, beauty, ugliness, nastiness.

- The suffixes -ino, -icino, -etto, -ello, -icello give an idea of smallness. In this way diminutive altered nouns are made, alterati diminutivi, like uccell-ino (little bird), mic-ino (kitty), libr-etto (booklet), prat-icello (small grass).

Un uccellino è appena volato via da quel ramo! (A little bird has just flown away from that branch.)
Il micino di Giovanni è tenerissimo. (Giovanni’s kitten is so tender.)
La signora ha comprato un libretto sugli alla sua bambina. (The lady bought a booklet about animals for her child.)
Fermiamoci su quel praticello, riposiamoci un attimo. (Let’s stop at that small grass, let’s rest for a moment.)

- The suffixes -one, -accione give an idea of greatness. In this way augmentative altered nouns are made, alterati accrescitivi, like gatt-one (big cat), ragazz-one (big boy), om-accione (big man), donn-ona (big woman).

Quel gattone dovrebbe mangiare di meno! (That big cat should eat less.)
Enrico è diventato un bel ragazzone. (Enrico has become a big, beautiful boy.)
Sono stata seguita da un omaccione per tutta la strada: che paura! (I’ve been chased by a big man while I was walking in the street: what a fright!)
Zia Piera è una donnona tanto alta quanto grossa. (Aunt Piera is a big woman, she’s as fat as tall.)

- The suffixes -uccio, -olo, -otto give an idea of tenderness. In this way endearing altered nouns are made, alterati vezzeggiativi, like amor-uccio (dear love), figli-olo (dear child), cucciol-otto (dear puppy).

Amoruccio mio, mi manchi tanto! (Dear love, I miss you so much!)
Figliolo, sono proprio fiero di te. (Dear son, I’m proud of  you.)
Il mio cucciolotto cresce sano e forte. (My loved puppy is growing up healthy and powerful.)

- The suffixes -accio, -astro, -ucolo, -iciattolo give an idea of ugliness and nastiness. In this way pejorative altered are made nouns, alterati peggiorativi, like gatt-accio (bad cat), poet-astro (bed poet), mostric-iattolo (little monster), temp-accio (bed weather).

Il tuo gattaccio mi ha rovinato tutti i divani! (Your bad cat damaged my sofas!)
Il libro di quel poetastro è illeggibile. (That bad poet’s book is awful.)
Mostriciattolo, metti subito in ordine i tuoi giochi. (Little monster, tidy up your toys.)
Con questo tempaccio non possiamo andare da nessuna parte. (With this bad weather we can go nowhere.)


•    Composed nouns

Composed nouns, i nomi composti, are made by the union between two words:

noun   +   noun: madrelingua (mothetongue), ferrovia (railway), capogruppo (group leader)
                                                           
noun   +   adjective: cassaforte (strongbox), terracotta (earthenware), manoscritto (manuscript)

adjective   +   noun: altopiano (upland), francobollo (stamp), gentiluomo (gentleman)

adjective   +   adjective: pianoforte (piano), sordomuto (deaf-mute), chiaroscuro (light and shade)

verb   +   noun: portapenne (pencil case), parafulmine (lightning rod), cacciavite (screwdriver)

verb   +   verb: saliscendi (switchback)

preposition   +   noun: doposcuola (post school), sottoveste (petticoat)

adverb   +   adjective: sempreverde (evergreen).


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