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

89. 7 Most nouns ending in a are feminine , and form their plural
by changing the a into i.
8 An e, dotted thus e, has a broad sound, like the a in gate .
14 ON THE PREPOSITIONS " DI," "A," "DA."
2. ON THE PREPOSITIONS " DI," "A," "DA."
THE PREPOSITION "DI."
90. The preposition " di " corresponds to the preposition of. Ex.
Il padrone di questa casa. The master of this house .
Il regno di Spagna. The kingdom of Spain.
Il duomo di Milano . The cathedral of Milan .
91. " D'," instead of " di," is used before words beginning with an i
; when the word begins with any other vowel either " di " or " d' "
may be used. Ex.
Il regno d' Italia . The kingdom of Italy.
92. The English possessive case , expressed by 's, as Peter's book ,
is rendered in Italian by inverting the position of the two words,
and placing the preposition " di," between them . Ex.
" Il libro di Pietro ." " Peter's book."
THE PREPOSITION "A."
93. The preposition " a " corresponds to the prepositions to and at.
Ex.
Vado a Parigi . I am going to Paris .
Ho parlato a Carlo. I have spoken to Charles .
Mio padre è a casa. My father is at home .
94. " Ad" may be used instead of " a," before a word beginning with
a vowel, especially before an a. Ex.
Sono stato ad Atene . I have been to Athens .
THE PREPOSITION " DA."
95. The preposition " da " is used in the sense of from. Ex.
Vengo da Firenze . I come from Florence .
96. The a of " da " is never replaced by an apostrophe in Italian
prose. Ex.
È partito da Edimburgo. He has left Edinburgh.
97. The preposition " da " is also used in the sense of by, when
preceded by a past participle . Ex.
20