"Lui scrive alla ragazza."

Translation: He writes to the girl.

[FirstDerivative]

These prepositions take the gender and number of their object, and so
Lui scrive al ragazzo -- He writes to the boy;
Lui scrive alla ragazza -- He writes to the girl;
Lui scrive alle donne -- He writes to the women;
Lui scrive agli uomini -- He writes to the men;

[CharmLucky]

FirstDerivative, thank you so much! Your input was very helpful!

[skeez1960]

sounds like Lui is doing a lot of writing.

(thanks for the helpful explanation)

[gigginno]

Hallo Bartolomeo it's right that you write because lui scrive alla ragazza it has translated first with "at the" than with " to the" so it isn't right because i don't know what i have to put in the next translation. Ok thanks a lot for your observation useful for me, bye and see you soon

[Jarpletz]

thanks for the clarification!

[Nicole_Di_Kansas]

Grazie!

[Gat0rNation]

I was just about to ask this. Thank you.

[Lilopez_]

Thanks!

[bluebunny84ppg]

Does he... maybe... possibly... have a crush?

[JennaHO]

Io non capisco! What is the point of "alla?" You could also say "Lui scrive al ragazza" couldn't you? It was in the earlier practices.

[IanBouldin]

Had the same question. I thought "al" was "to the" but I realize that for comprehension in earlier practices I was altering the translation to make sense in English rather than learn how something is literally said in Italian. I see now it is beginning to make a bigger difference.

[_GreenGiant_]

Can they just make a chart with all of the ways to say "to the?"

[sharkbbb]

Here you are: The complete list of Italian prepositional articles:

http://italian.about.com/library/fare/blfare153a.htm

[naomi.c.l.hall]

thank you sooo much!!

[_GreenGiant_]

Thank you!

[Rona9Max]

thanks a lot guys

[AnthonyBar23923]

I put "He writes to her", I know that that's wrong, but how would I write "He writes to her"? Lui scrive la sua?

[MichaelPat627632]

By the way, what is the proper way to say "gli?" Is the "G" silent or is it pronounced like "glee?"

[MusicMan97]

I think it's pronounced more like 'lee'

[naomi.c.l.hall]

more like lee but with a little bit of a gl. lol sorry i cant explain it all that well. search it on google translate and press speak. hope that helps!!

[Mobius760696]

Some help please.
Question: When is 'alla' used as apposed to 'dalla'? For example.
Il ragazzo va dalla ragazza.
(The boy goes to the girl.)

Lui scrive alla ragazza.
(He writes to the girl.)

[I-Am-Phil]

This is the first time in any language I've encountered contractions that are longer than what they are replacing: a la --> alla. (It's contrary to the very meaning of "contraction.") Also, in this case, at least, are phonetically the same (or nearly so).

Still, I like these Italian prepositions. Satisfying to the linguist in me.