1.3.2 - Definite Articles
- Due No due date
- Points 0
- Questions 0
- Time Limit None
- Allowed Attempts 2
Instructions
Los Artículos Definidos
Definite Articles
In English, the definite article (the) and the indefinite articles (a, an) are often used before nouns. In the same way, Spanish also has definite and indefinite articles and they are an important part of Spanish grammar. In Spanish, articles accompany nouns. However, unlike English, the Spanish articles vary in form because they agree in gender and number with the noun. In Spanish, articles indicate the gender (feminine/masculine) and number (singular/plural) of a noun. In this lesson you will introduced to the Spanish definite articles.
Spanish has 4 different forms of definite articles that are equivalent to the English definite article the. The chart below includes these 4 different forms.
| Forms of Definite Articles |
| la - feminine singular |
| el - masculine singular |
| las - feminine plural |
| los - masculine plural |
*Each of these definite articles are translated as "the."
Below are a few examples of how definite articles are used in determining the gender and number of nouns.
| Masculine | Masculine | |
| Singular | Plural | |
|
|
|
|
el niño - the boy el chico - the boy |
los niños - the boys los chicos - the boys |
|
|
|
||
| Feminine | Feminine | |
| Singular | Plural | |
|
|
|
|
la niña - the girl la chica - the girl |
las niñas - the girls las chicas - the girls |
|
Masculine |
Masculine |
|
| Singular | Plural | |
| el estudiante - the male student |
los estudiantes - the male students (can also be a mixed group) |
|
|
|
||
| Feminine | Feminine | |
| Singular | Plural | |
|
||
| la estudiante - the female student | las estudiantes - the female students |
Since you have been introduced to many new vocabulary words in section 3, we will now take time to review the vocabulary. Below, you will see which words are masculine and which words are feminine. Please take time to memorize the following vocabulary words.
|
Vocabulario (male) |
|
Vocabulario (female) |
| el niño - the boy | la niña - the girl | |
| el pasajero - the male passenger | la pasajera - the female passenger | |
| el maestro - the male teacher | la maestra - the female teacher | |
| el profesor - the male teacher | la profesora - the female teacher | |
| el conductor - the male driver | la conductora - the female driver | |
| el doctor - the male doctor | la doctora - the female doctor | |
| el turista - the male tourist | la turista - the female tourist | |
| el joven - the young man | la joven - the young woman | |
| el estudiante - the male student | la estudiante - the female student | |
| el número - the number | la palabra - the word | |
| el bebé - the baby | la película - the film | |
| el video - the video | la cosa - the thing | |
| el problema - the problem | la conversación - the conversation | |
| el idioma - the language | la habitación - the room | |
| el autobús - the bus | la ciudad - the city | |
| el país - the country | la decisión - the decision | |
| el agua - the water | la foto - the photo | |
| el mapa - the map | la maleta - the suitcase |
Click below to hear the pronunciation of the vocabulary words listed in the chart above. Listen closely to the pronunciation of each vocabulary word and practice reciting the words aloud.
Masculine Gender Vocabulary Words
Feminine Gender Vocabulary Words
Grammar Note:
In order to avoid repetition of the "a" sound, feminine singular nouns that begin with "a-" or "ha-" require the masculine article "el" when the stress in the word falls on the first syllable.
Example:
el agua (singular) - This avoids the double "a" sound that would be present when saying "la agua"
las aguas (plural)
Now, it is time to complete the quiz below. In preparation for this quiz, it is important that you study the definite articles as well as the vocabulary covered in this lesson.
NOTE: Sample quiz questions are not available in this preview course.