One of the basic rules Italian learners are taught from day one is that possessive adjectives always require a Definite articleor the Italian equivalent of “the” when they precede the noun they modify.
E.g:
- his neighbor = his/her neighbor (literally: his/her neighbor)
- my home = my home (literally: my house)
- our friends = our friends (literally: our friend)
- their cups = their cups (literally: their cups)
However, there is one notable exception to this rule, and that is singular family member. Unlike other nouns, they do not require a definite article. Here are some of the most important family members in Italian:
This means, for example, that you have to say my daughter (my daughter) without the definite article, no my daughter.
Of course, a rule isn’t a rule without at least one exception, and in this case we actually have four! In each case, the definite article is required:
1. Family members are modified by prefixes, such as pair- or Dear.
- my grandpa = my grandpa (no definite article)
- mine of twoNot without = my great grandfather (definite article required)
- my uncle = my uncle (no definite article)
- mine Prouncle = my great uncle (definite article required)
2. Family members are modified with suffixes, such as -ino/a (for small) or -one by one (indicating size).
- my mother = my mother (no definite article)
- my motherThen = my cute little mother (definite article required)
- your brother = your brother (no definite article)
- your brotherone = your brother (definite article required)
3. family member is modified by another adjective, such as favorite (favorite), worship (beloved), naughty (cheeky), and many more.
- our father = our father (no definite article)
- our beloved father = our beloved father (definite article required)
- your cousin = your cousin (no definite article)
- your naughty cousin = your cheeky cousin (definite article required)
4. The possessive adjective is them (Their).
- their grandmother = their grandmother (definite article required)
- their children = their son/child (definite article required)
resource: transparent language
“But people—especially children—use my mother or my father Always” I can hear you yelling in the back, you’re right!
According to Italian grammar books, the names of certain family members are considered affectionate forms: for example, Mother (Mother / Mother) is the affectionate form Mother (Mother), although pope and dad (dad / dad) is the affectionate form the priest (Father).
Therefore, it is considered acceptable to use them with the definite article, as in the suffixed form in the second part.
Another form that is now considered acceptable is “definite article + family member” without possessive adjectives.In fact, you’ll often hear people refer to their mothers as simply Mother instead of my mother or my mother.
However, keep in mind that removing possessive adjectives is very colloquial, mostly occurs between friends or close family members, and should only be done if there is no ambiguity about the family members in question.
Amico 1: How is mom doing? – Amico 2: Ok thanks, I heard that yesterday.
friend 1: Is your mother ok? – Friend 2: She’s fine, thank you, I heard from her yesterday.
What about the expression? Mamma Mia! Possessive adjectives and nouns reversed?Well, it has a completely different meaning, as you’ll find out in our featured articles.
