1 [the text had dots under many e, o z and zz which I cannot ...

matches. What a joke ! I will not have this pear because it is
over-ripe.
EXERCISE IX. (ON THE Z, AND ZZ, SOFT.)
La Signorina Bianchini ha una bellissima voce di mezzo-soprano.
Miss Bianchini has a beautiful light soprano voice .
" Nel mezzo (53) del cammin di nostra vita " (Dante ). La rappre-
Midway the journey of our life . The repre -
sentazione dell' opera "La Gazza Ladra " del Rossini durò due ore
sentation of the opera "La Gazza Ladra" of Rossini, lasted two
hours and
e mezzo. " I Promessi Sposi " del Manzoni (53) è un bellissimo
a - half. "The Betrothed," of Manzoni is a very beautiful
romanzo. Egli ha scelto una magnifica statua di bronzo.
novel . He has chosen a magnificent bronze statue .
Quest' Uomo è molto bizzarre e rozzo ; non ha il menomo zelo per
il
This man is very eccentric and rude ; he has not the slightest
zeal for
suo lavoro. L'orizzonte era del colore azzurro del più puro zaffiro.
his work . The horizon was of the azure colour of the purest
sapphire.
1 Notice that the s in adjectives ending in oso, and words derived
from them , is sharp, like the s in the word spirit .
2 Notice that the s in adjectives indicating nationality, ending in
ese, is sharp, like the s in the word spirit, except in " Francese,"
French , and " Lucchese ," Lucchese .
3 Notice that the s in nouns ending in esa, ese, is sharp, like the
s in the word spirit, except in the words " chiesa," church, "
Agnese ," Agnes , and a few others .
ON THE DEFINITE ARTICLE. 13
LESSON I.
1. ON THE DEFINITE ARTICLE.
81. The definite article The is translated into Italian by "il" in the
singular, and "i" in the plural, before masculine nouns beginning
with a consonant . Ex.
" Il libro," 1 the book, " i libri," the books.
18