Answers
Jul 15, 2013 - 01:34 AM
I have to check on the "La zia Maria"...if that is, I missed that bc when I speak to family members I never include the La or whichever article is required. For example, for "My", it is simply Mia Zia, Mio Zio, Mio Fratello, Mia Nonna, etc. Same for your(i), Tuo nonno, Tua nonna. A good way to remember it is that classic Italian phrase "MAMMA MIA!"..notice there is no La! When it is plural, you need the article. "I miei nonni", "i miei genitori", "le mie sorelle", "i tuoi nipoti", "i tuoi fratelli" etc However, to say "my family" the La is required and it is "La mia famiglia". I do not know about your final question; I would think Zia Marie e` qui is okay...I often say "nonna e` qui" in my house.
Jul 16, 2013 - 05:29 PM
I think articles are not needed for close family members when expressing possession I think the confusion here is between 'the aunt maria' and 'my aunt maria' la zia maria' and 'mia zia maria'. The first is suggests an introduction so article needed 'la zia maria' the second suggests possession so needs possessive but no article as family member 'mia zia maria'
Hope this makes sense and helps
Hope this makes sense and helps
Jul 18, 2013 - 05:38 AM
As a general rule you'd use the article to say things like "aunt Maria is here" = "la zia Maria è qui". You're not using a possessive in that sentence. In the phrase "My aunt Maria" you are using a possessive ("my"). Kinship terms do not require the definite article before the possessive if this is in the singular, so "My aunt Maria" = ""Mia zia Maria".
Another example: let's take the sentence "Isabella's sister". In Italian this would be "La sorella di Isabella", literally "the sister of Isabella". You are not using a possessive adjective there and you need the article. But if you were to say "Her sister", this would be "sua sorella". No article there because you are using a possessive referring to a family member in the singular.
Hope this helps!
Another example: let's take the sentence "Isabella's sister". In Italian this would be "La sorella di Isabella", literally "the sister of Isabella". You are not using a possessive adjective there and you need the article. But if you were to say "Her sister", this would be "sua sorella". No article there because you are using a possessive referring to a family member in the singular.
Hope this helps!
Jul 18, 2013 - 08:45 PM
Thank you Apolonia. Your answer is what I was looking for. That was very clear..