A known thing
The definite article often refers to something already known or clear from the context, like English the. Italian also uses it for a whole category: la musica (music). Do not translate it automatically as this.
A1 · Grammar
Definite articles
Gli articoli determinativi
Masculine forms
Il → i before most consonants: il libro → i libri.
Lo → gli before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, pn, x and certain other sounds: lo studente → gli studenti.
L’ → gli before a vowel: l’amico → gli amici.
Lo → gli before s + consonant, z, gn, ps, pn, x and certain other sounds: lo studente → gli studenti.
L’ → gli before a vowel: l’amico → gli amici.
il libro, i libri
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the book, the books
lo studente, gli studenti
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the male student, the male students
l'amico, gli amici
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the male friend, the male friends
Feminine forms
La → le before a consonant: la casa → le case.
L’ → le before a vowel: l’amica → le amiche.
Keep the full plural article le before a vowel: le amiche.
L’ → le before a vowel: l’amica → le amiche.
Keep the full plural article le before a vowel: le amiche.
la casa, le case
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the house, the houses
l'amica, le amiche
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the female friend, the female friends
How to choose the form
First identify the noun’s gender and number, then look at the word immediately following the article: lo studente, but il bravo studente. For now, learn the basic forms; cases where the article is omitted come later.
Remember
Masculine: il/i, lo/gli, l’/gli. Feminine: la/le, l’/le. The form depends on gender, number and the first sound of the following word.
Result
This is practice, not an exam. You can repeat the exercises.