content_image/789555.jpg content_image/789557.jpg content_image/789558.jpg
9 It may be useful to compare the use of the de fi nite and inde fi nite article in table form: 

<img src='content_image/789555.jpg'>

## Use of the articles 

10 The use of the articles is often the same in Italian as in English, but there are cases (mostly concerning the de fi nite article) where the two languages di ff er. Here are the most common instances: 

GLYPH<127> In Italian, the de fi nite article is used before a noun used in a general sense: 

<img src='content_image/789557.jpg'>

GLYPH<127> Italian uses the de fi nite article before a title followed by a surname, except when addressing the person directly: 

<img src='content_image/789558.jpg'>

* Note that some masculine titles, notably Signore , Professore  and Dottore , drop the fi nal vowel when used before the name of the person, becoming Signor , Professor , Dottor , etc. 

GLYPH<127> The Italian de fi nite article is always used with years, e.g. il 1990 , il 2000 . 

GLYPH<127> The de fi nite article is normally used in Italian with names of countries and regions, e.g. l’Inghilterra  (England), la Toscana  (Tuscany), il Porto- gallo  (Portugal), l’Europa  (Europe). But the rule may be di ff erent when using a preposition, e.g. in Italia  (in Italy) (see Unit 8, paragraph 14). 

