Artículos

An article is a word used to modify a noun, indicating whether it refers to a specific or general entity. Spanish has both definite and indefinite articles, which must agree with the noun in gender and number.

Types of Articles

1. Definite Articles: Used to refer to specific or known entities.

   • El (masculine singular)
   • La (feminine singular)
   • Los (masculine plural)
   • Las (feminine plural)

2. Indefinite Articles: Used to refer to general or unknown entities.

   • Un (masculine singular)
   • Una (feminine singular)
   • Unos (masculine plural)
   • Unas (feminine plural)

Definite Articles

Definite articles are used when referring to a specific noun that is known to the speaker and the listener. They correspond to "the" in English.

Usage of Definite Articles

• El: Masculine singular

  El libro está en la mesa. (The book is on the table.)

• La: Feminine singular

  La casa es grande. (The house is big.)

• Los: Masculine plural

  Los libros están en la estantería. (The books are on the shelf.)

• Las: Feminine plural

  Las casas son bonitas. (The houses are pretty.)

Indefinite Articles

Indefinite articles are used when referring to a noun that is not specific or known to the listener. They correspond to "a" or "an" in English.

Usage of Indefinite Articles

• Un: Masculine singular

  Un libro interesante. (An interesting book.)

• Una: Feminine singular

  Una casa grande. (A big house.)

• Unos: Masculine plural

  Unos libros interesantes. (Some interesting books.)

• Unas: Feminine plural

  Unas casas bonitas. (Some pretty houses.)

Special Cases

Contractions with Prepositions

In Spanish, definite articles often contract with certain prepositions:

• A + el = al

  Voy al cine. (I go to the cinema.)

• De + el = del

  El libro del estudiante. (The student's book.)

Use with Names of Countries and Languages

• Generally, the names of countries and languages do not take an article, but there are exceptions.

  Hablo español. (I speak Spanish.)

Summary

• Articles modify nouns to indicate whether they are definite or indefinite and must agree with the noun in gender and number.
• Definite Articles (el, la, los, las) refer to specific or known entities.
• Indefinite Articles (un, una, unos, unas) refer to general or unknown entities.
• Articles can contract with prepositions and have specific rules when used with names of countries and languages.