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Spanish Demystified > Definite and Indefinite Articles > Flashcards

Definite and Indefinite Articles Flashcards

Spanish Demystified

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1
Q

Definite and Indefinite Articles

A

In Spanish, definite and indefinite articles (the, a, an, and some) indicate both the gender of the noun (masculine or feminine) as well as the number (singular or plural).

Masculine - Feminine - Singular: el, la - the. Plural: los, las - the. The articles el (singular) and los (plural) are used before masculine nouns to say ‘the’. The articles la (singular) and las (plural) are used before feminine nouns to say ‘the’.

  • El carro es azul. - The car is blue.
  • Las manzanas son deliciosas. - The apples are delicious.
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2
Q

Indefinite Articles

A

The article un is used before masculine nouns to say ‘a’. The article una is used before feminine nouns to say ‘a’. The article unos is used before plural masculine nouns to say ‘some’. The article unas is used before plural feminine nouns to say ‘some’. Singular: un, una – ‘a’. Plural: unos, unas - ‘some’.

  • Argentina es un pais hermoso. - Argentina is a beautiful country.
  • Quiero unas cervezas frías. - I want some cold beers.

There are some feminine nouns that begin with the ‘a’ sound that use the masculine article in the singular form, and the feminine in the plural. This is done to avoid the awkward sound of ‘a’ and ‘a’ together.

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3
Q

Use of Indefinite Articles

A

Spanish has various rules about when to use, and when not to use, indefinite articles. The indefinite articles (un, unos, una, unas) can generally be used when you want to say ‘a’ or ‘some’.

The exception to this rule is with professions. When talking generally about people’s professions, the article is omitted.

  • Estela es abogada - Estela is a lawyer.
  • Enrique es músico. - Enrique is a musician.

But, when discussion of professions gets more specific and the profession is modified by an adjective or phrase, the indefinite article is used.

  • Estela es una buena abogada. - Estela is a good lawyer.
  • Enrique es un músico que trabaja mucho. - Enrique is a musician who works a lot.
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4
Q

Use of Definite Articles

A

In general, the definite article can be used whenever we say ‘the’ in English. However, sometimes the definite article is used in Spanish when we don’t say ‘the’ in English.

The definite article is used:

  • when speaking generally or abstractly about a noun.
  • with days of the week to say on.
  • with titles when talking about people (but not when talking to them).
  • with parts of the body and personal possessions when we would ordinarily use possessive pronouns, such as mi (my) or su (his, her) in English.
  • when talking about languages in a general way.

The definite article is not used after:

  • verbs used in relation to languages, such as hablar (to speak), saber (to know), and aprender (to learn)
  • after the prepositions en (in), and de (of).

This is similar to English. However, when another verb or an adverb is in the mix, the definite article is used.

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5
Q

Love is beautiful.

A

El amor es lindo.

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6
Q

I don’t like meat.

A

No me gusta la carne.

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7
Q

Cats are very independent.

A

Los gatos son muy independientes.

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8
Q

Summer is humid.

A

El verano es húmedo.

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9
Q

Celia is going to the beach on Friday.

A

Celia va a la playa el viernes.

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10
Q

I have class on Mondays.

A

Tengo clase los lunes.

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11
Q

Chinese is difficult.

A

El chino es difícil.

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12
Q

I speak Spanish.

A

Hablo español.

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13
Q

Sara reads in Spanish.

A

Sara lee en español.

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14
Q

It’s a Spanish book.

A

Es un libro de español.

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15
Q

Katrina speaks Spanish well.

A

Katrina habla bien el español.

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16
Q

But she prefers Portuguese.

A

Pero prefiere el portugués.

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17
Q

I bite my nails.

A

Me muerdo las uñas.

18
Q

Mr. Hernando has a phone call.

A

El señor Hernando tiene una llamada.

19
Q

The Plural Form of Nouns

A

For most nouns ending in a vowel, just add an -s to make it plural. For most nouns ending in a consonant, add -es to make the plural form. For words ending in -ión, the written accent in dropped in the plural. Also note that by adding -es to the end of the word, you also add an extra syllable. For nouns ending in -z, the plural is made by changing the -z to a -c-before adding -es. The word for people, la gente, is always singular, even though it refers to a plural concept.

20
Q

house, houses

A

la casa, las casas

21
Q

cat, cats

A

el gato, los gatos

22
Q

key, keys

A

la llave, las llaves

23
Q

spirit, spirits

A

el espíritu, los espíritus

24
Q

skin, skins; fur (as in a fur coat); furs

A

la piel, las pieles

25
Q

city, cities

A

la ciudad, las ciudades

26
Q

nation, nations

A

la nación, las naciones

27
Q

country, countries

A

el país, los países

28
Q

voice, voices

A

la voz, las voces

29
Q

pencil, pencils

A

el lápiz, los lápices

30
Q

The people are nice.

A

La gente es simpática.

31
Q

Diminutives

A

Spanish speakers often use words called diminutives, usually formed with the suffix -ito, to show fondness or affection, as well as to indicate smallness of size. Think of words like kitty, doggie, booties, or jammies in English.

To form the diminutive, drop the last -a or -o of a noun and add the endings -ito, -ita, -itos, or -itas, following the same rules for number and gender as with regular nouns. Note that for nouns ending in -r, -n, or -e, you don’t need to drop the last letter, and the suffix -cito is generally used.

For words that end in -co or -ca, the –c- changes to a -qu-. Diminutives can be used with nouns, adjectives, and adverbs. un vaso de agua - a glass of water un vasito de agua - a small glass of water un café - a coffee un cafecito - a little coffee

32
Q

Pronunciation: Word Stress

A
  1. If the word ends in a vowel, n, or s, the stress is on the second-to-last syllable. For example: sobrina, chocolate, actores, botas, joven, llaman. Most words fall into this category.
  2. For words that end in a consonant other than n or s, the stress is on the last syllable. For example: andar, llamar, actitud, final.
  3. An accent mark is placed over any stressed syllables that do not follow rules 1 and 2 above. For example: águila, avión, médico, francés.
33
Q

General, abstract and conceptual nouns

Definite Article Usage

A

In English, the article is omitted with abstract nouns and nouns that refer more to a concept than a tangible item but is required in Spanish.

  • La ciencia es importante. Science is important.
  • Creo en la justicia. I believe in justice.
  • Estudio la literatura. I study literature.
  • La primavera es bella. Spring is beautiful.

Exception: The article is omitted after the preposition de, especially when the noun following ‘de’ serves to describe the first noun and doesn’t refer to a specific person or thing.

  • Los zapatos de hombres. Men’s shoes.
  • Los zapatos de los hombres. The shoes of the men.
  • Dolor de muela. Toothache (in general)
  • Dolor de la muela. Toothache (in a particular tooth).
34
Q

Titles of People

Definite Article Usage

A

The definite article is used before most titles of a person being talked about.

  • El presidente Bush vive en la Casa Blanca. President Bush lives in the White House.
  • Voy a la oficina de la doctora González. I’m going to the office of Dr. Gonzalez.
  • Mi vecina es la señora Jones. My neighbor is Mrs. Jones.)

The article is omitted, however, when directly addressing the person.

  • Profesora Barrera ¿cómo está usted? Professor Barrera, how are you?
35
Q

Before days of the week

Definite Article Usage

A

Except in constructions where the day of the week follows a form of ser, the article is needed.

  • Hoy es martes. Today is Tuesday.
  • Vamos a la escuela los lunes. We go to school on Mondays.
  • El tren sale el miércoles. The train leaves on Wednesday.
36
Q

Seasons of the year

Definite Article Usage

A

Seasons normally need the definite article, although it is optional after de, en or a form of ser.

  • Prefiero los inviernos. I prefer winters.
  • No quiero asistir a la escuela de verano. I don’t want to go to the summer school.
37
Q

Before verbs used as subjects

Definite Article Usage

A

The article ‘el’ is used when an infinitive is used as a noun and is the subject of a sentence.

  • El escribir es difícil. Writing is difficult.
  • El esquiar es peligroso. Skiing is dangerous.
  • No me gusta el nadar. I don’t like swimming.

In Spanish, this sentence has an inverted word order that makes nadar the subject.

38
Q

Often before names of languages

Definite Article Usage

A

The article generally is used before names of languages but is omitted immediately following a verb that is used with languages, such as hablar (to speak) except when another verb or adverb is also used, or after the preposition en.

  • El inglés es la lengua de Belice. English is the language of Belize.
  • El alemán es difícil. German is difficult.
  • Hablo bien el español. I speak Spanish well.
  • Hablo español. I speak Spanish.
  • No puede escribir en francés. He can’t write in French.
39
Q

With some place names

Definite Article Usage

A

Although the definite article is seldom mandatory with place names, it is often used with many of them. The list of place names using the definite article is quite arbitrary.

  • La Habana es bonita. Havana is pretty.
  • La India tiene muchas lenguas. India has many languages.
40
Q

With nouns joined by “and”

Definite Article Usage

A

In English, it isn’t necessary to include “the” before each noun in a series. But Spanish requires it.

  • La madre y el padre están felices. The mother and father are happy.
  • Compré la silla y la mesa. I bought the chair and table.
41
Q

With clothing, body parts and other personal items

Definite Article Usage

A

With clothing, body parts and other personal items, Spanish uses the definite article in cases where a possessive adjective (such as “your”) would be used in English.

  • ¡Abre los ojos! Open your eyes!
  • Perdió los zapatos. He lost his shoes.

Spanish Demystified (13 decks)

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