11 In some cases a de fi nite article is used in Italian where an inde fi nite article (or a possessive adjective – see Unit 3) is used in English. Here are some instances: There are also cases when there is no article in Italian but the de fi nite or inde fi nite article is used in English: 12 As we shall see (Unit 3), a noun can sometimes be preceded by an adjec- tive, so that the adjective comes between the article and the noun (e.g.  una bella  donna , a beautiful woman). In such cases, the form of the article depends on the spelling of the  adjective , not the noun: la casa una casa l’auto un’auto the house a house the car a car l’ultima casa un’ottima casa la prima auto una bella auto the last house an excellent house the  fi rst car a beautiful car Andiamo in montagna. Stasera andiamo a teatro. Accompagno Anna in aeroporto. Andiamo in macchina. Carlo è medico. Sono studente. Non ha marito. We’re going to the mountains. We’re going to the theatre this evening. I’m taking Anna to the airport. We’re going in the/a car. Carlo is a doctor. I’m a student. She hasn’t got a husband. Antonio ha  il  naso lungo. Hai  la  patente? Avete  l’ ombrello? Ho  il  ra ff reddore. Dove passi  le  vacanze di solito? Di pomeriggio faccio  il  compito. Hai  il  biglietto? Antonio has a long nose. Have you got a driving licence? Have you got an umbrella? I have got a cold. Where do you normally spend your holidays? In the afternoon I do my homework. Have you got a/your ticket? 14 Unit 2 Definite and indefinite article before an adjective