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The, A/An and Some: Definite and Indefinite Articles
The - Definite Articles
You already know that in Spanish, all nouns are have grammatical gender, and they are either masculine or feminine.
You know that el is the for masculine words (most end in -o) and la is the for feminine words (most end in -a, -dad, -tad, -tud, -ción or -sión).
There are two more words for the:
El, la, los and las are called definite articles.
El, la, los and las all mean the.
A/An and Some - Indefinite Articles
When we talk about something in particular, we use the word the: the house, the dog, the car... we have in mind a definite or specific object.
On the other hand, if we talk about a house, a dog, a car... we are referring to any house, any dog, any car; in other words, an unspecific or indefinite object.
The indefinite articles are:
Un, una, unos, unas are called indefinite articles.
Un and una mean a or an; unos and unas mean some.
Study the following examples:
The exceptions for un and una are the same as those for el and la:
The plurals take the same gender: unos sofás, unas manos, etc.
Don't forget about the feminine words that take the masculine article:
These feminine words take the feminine plural article: unas aguas, unas águilas, etc.
Remember: The definite articles el, la, los and las all mean the.
The indefinite articles un and una mean a or an; unos and unas mean some.
You already know that in Spanish, all nouns are have grammatical gender, and they are either masculine or feminine.
You know that el is the for masculine words (most end in -o) and la is the for feminine words (most end in -a, -dad, -tad, -tud, -ción or -sión).
There are two more words for the:
- los which is the plural form of el
| el libro | the book | |
| los libros | the books |
- las which is the plural form of la
| la silla | the chair | |
| las sillas | the chairs |
El, la, los and las are called definite articles.
El, la, los and las all mean the.
A/An and Some - Indefinite Articles
When we talk about something in particular, we use the word the: the house, the dog, the car... we have in mind a definite or specific object.
On the other hand, if we talk about a house, a dog, a car... we are referring to any house, any dog, any car; in other words, an unspecific or indefinite object.
The indefinite articles are:
- un for masculine singular words (the el words)
unos for masculine plural words (the los words)
una for feminine words (the la words)
unas for feminine plural words (the las words)
Un, una, unos, unas are called indefinite articles.
Un and una mean a or an; unos and unas mean some.
Study the following examples:
| el libro | the book |
| los libros | the book |
| un libro | a book |
| unos libros | some books |
| la silla | the chair |
| las sillas | the chairs |
| una silla | a chair |
| unas sillas | some chairs |
The exceptions for un and una are the same as those for el and la:
| un sofá | a/one sofa |
| un planeta | a/one planet |
| un día | a/one day |
| un mapa | a/one map |
| un problema | a/one problem |
| un telegrama | a/one telegram |
| un programa | a/one programme |
| un sistema | a/one system |
| un poema | a/one poem |
| un tema | a/one theme |
| un clima | a/one climate |
| un idioma | a/one language |
| una mano | a/one hand |
| una radio | a/one radio |
The plurals take the same gender: unos sofás, unas manos, etc.
Don't forget about the feminine words that take the masculine article:
| un agua | a/one water |
| un águila | an/one eagle |
| un hacha | a/one hatchet |
| un arma | an/one arm (weapon) |
| un ave | a/one bird |
| un hada | a/one fairy |
| un aire | an/one air |
These feminine words take the feminine plural article: unas aguas, unas águilas, etc.
Remember: The definite articles el, la, los and las all mean the.
The indefinite articles un and una mean a or an; unos and unas mean some.
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