La prefettura annulla la contravvenzione.

Because both nouns are feminine singular, and la is the definite article that agrees with them.

• la prefettura = the prefecture / the prefect’s office
• la contravvenzione = the fine / citation / penalty notice

In Italian, articles are used more often than in English, so having la before both the subject and the object is completely normal.

In this sentence, the usual Italian word order helps:

• La prefettura = subject
• annulla = verb
• la contravvenzione = direct object

So the structure is:

subject + verb + object

Italian often relies on word order less than English does, but in a simple sentence like this, the first noun phrase is normally the subject and the second is the object.

Annulla is the third person singular present indicative of annullare.

So it means:

• he cancels
• she cancels
• it cancels
• the office cancels

Here it matches la prefettura, which is grammatically singular.

A quick mini-conjugation:

• io annullo = I cancel
• tu annulli = you cancel
• lui / lei annulla = he / she cancels
• noi annulliamo = we cancel
• voi annullate = you all cancel
• loro annullano = they cancel

Because in both Italian and English, institutions are often used as the grammatical subject of a verb.

So la prefettura annulla works like:

• the court cancels
• the government decides
• the school approves

It does not mean the building itself is acting; it means the institution or administrative office does the action.

They are related, but not always exactly identical.

• multa usually means a fine in a general sense
• contravvenzione can mean a citation, ticket, penalty notice, or violation/fine in a more formal or legal-administrative sense

In many everyday contexts, especially traffic-related ones, learners may see them translated similarly. But contravvenzione often sounds a bit more official or technical.

Because annullare is the infinitive, meaning to cancel.

In a full sentence with a subject, Italian normally uses a conjugated verb:

• La prefettura annulla la contravvenzione. = The prefecture cancels the citation.

If you said annullare, that would be more like the dictionary form, not the finished sentence form.

It is pronounced approximately ah-NOOL-la.

A few pronunciation notes:

• nn is a doubled consonant, so it is held a little longer than a single n
• u is pronounced like oo in food
• the stress is on the middle syllable: nul

So:

• an-nul-la

Similarly:

• prefettura ≈ preh-fet-TOO-ra
• contravvenzione ≈ con-tra-ven-TSYO-ne

Normally, no. That sounds unnatural or incomplete in standard Italian.

Italian usually needs the articles here:

• La prefettura annulla la contravvenzione.

You might see article omission in headlines, notes, or bureaucratic shorthand, but in normal full sentences, keeping la is the correct choice.

Yes, it is in the present tense.

Italian often uses the present for:

• general statements
• current actions
• formal or journalistic style
• summaries of official decisions

Depending on context, English might translate it as:

• The prefecture cancels the citation
• The prefecture is canceling the citation
• sometimes even has canceled in a context where English prefers a completed sense

But grammatically, the Italian form itself is present indicative.

The verb changes for person and number, not for masculine vs feminine.

So:

• la prefettura annulla
• il prefetto annulla

Both use annulla because both are third person singular.

Gender affects things like:

• articles: la, il
• some adjectives and past participles in certain contexts

But in the present tense, the verb form does not change just because the noun is feminine.

Yes. That is a correct passive version.

Compare:

• La prefettura annulla la contravvenzione. = active
• La contravvenzione è annullata dalla prefettura. = passive

The active version is more direct and usually more natural unless you specifically want to emphasize the citation rather than the prefecture.

It is common enough, but it belongs more to administrative and institutional vocabulary than casual daily conversation.

A learner is likely to meet it in contexts such as:

• official letters
• legal or bureaucratic documents
• residency and immigration matters
• driving or traffic fines
• public administration

So it is a useful word, but not one of the very first everyday nouns like casa, scuola, or negozio.