Le preposizioni articolate: del, al, dal, nel, sul
Le preposizioni articolate: del, al, dal, nel, sul means “Five prepositions fuse with the definite article into one word”. Di, a, da, in and su must combine with a following definite article: di + il = del, a + la = alla, da + gli = dagli, in + i = nei, su + le = sulle. Formation: di+il=del · a+il=al · da+il=dal · in+il=nel · su+il=sul — (+ lo/la/i/gli/le: dello, della, dei, degli, delle…)
Five prepositions fuse with the definite article into one word
A1Formation
di+il=del · a+il=al · da+il=dal · in+il=nel · su+il=sul — (+ lo/la/i/gli/le: dello, della, dei, degli, delle…)
Explanation
Di, a, da, in and su must combine with a following definite article: di + il = del, a + la = alla, da + gli = dagli, in + i = nei, su + le = sulle. This is obligatory, not optional — *di il libro is simply wrong. The full grid is regular once you see it: the preposition keeps its shape and the article's form is appended (del, dello, della, dell', dei, degli, delle). Con and per do not combine in modern Italian (con il treno, per il lavoro), though col is still heard. Note that da has a meaning English splits in two: 'from' and 'at someone's place' (vado dal medico 'I'm going to the doctor's').
Examples
Note
This is one of the first things that marks out a learner: saying 'in il centro' instead of nel centro is immediately noticeable. Drill the five prepositions × six articles until the fused forms come automatically.
FAQ
Le preposizioni articolate: del, al, dal, nel, sul — what does it mean and how is it used?
Five prepositions fuse with the definite article into one word. Di, a, da, in and su must combine with a following definite article: di + il = del, a + la = alla, da + gli = dagli, in + i = nei, su + le = sulle. This is obligatory, not optional — *di il libro is simply wrong. The full grid is regular once you see it: the preposition keeps its shape and the article's form is appended (del, dello, della, dell', dei, degli, delle). Con and per do not combine in modern Italian (con il treno, per il lavoro), though col is still heard. Note that da has a meaning English splits in two: 'from' and 'at someone's place' (vado dal medico 'I'm going to the doctor's').
Le preposizioni articolate: del, al, dal, nel, sul — how do you form it?
di+il=del · a+il=al · da+il=dal · in+il=nel · su+il=sul — (+ lo/la/i/gli/le: dello, della, dei, degli, delle…)
Le preposizioni articolate: del, al, dal, nel, sul — any usage notes?
This is one of the first things that marks out a learner: saying 'in il centro' instead of nel centro is immediately noticeable. Drill the five prepositions × six articles until the fused forms come automatically.