1.4: Articles
- Page ID
- 415611
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Definite and Indefinite Articles
An article is a short word that goes in front of a noun. There are two types of articles: definite and indefinite.
In English, the definite article is THE. In Spanish, the definite article must match the noun in gender and number, so there are four of them: EL, LA, LOS, LAS. In a way, definite articles define the noun by specifying the noun with the word THE.
In English, the words A, AN, SOME, or A FEW are indefinite articles. In Spanish, indefinite articles come from the number uno. Since an indefinite article must match a noun in gender and number in Spanish, there are four indefinite articles: UN, UNA, UNOS, UNAS.
Indefinite articles do not limit or define a noun as much as a definite article. For example, A book, un libro, is not as specific as THE book, el libro.
There are two contractions that happen in Spanish. These contractions include definite articles. When EL follows the prepositions a (to) or de (from, of), the following contractions take place.
a + el = al (to the)
Vamos al museo. = We go to the museum.
Saludamos al chico. = We say “hello” to the boy.
de + el = del (of, from the)
El libro es del chico. = The book is from the boy.
Vamos del cine. = We come from the cinema.
There are no other contractions that happen in Spanish. When the definite articles LA, LOS, and LAS follow the prepositions a or de, they remain two separate words.
Vamos a la casa de Juana. = We go to Jane’s house.
El libro es de la profesora. = The book is from the teacher.
Vamos a los estadios. = We go to the stadiums.
El perro es de las chicas. = The dos is from the girls.
Reread the information above one more time. Then, see what you have learned by completing the following practices.
Prácticas.
A. Answer the following questions.
1. What is an article?
2. What are the four ways to say THE in Spanish?
3. What are the four ways to say A, AN, SOME, or A FEW in Spanish?
4. What is the difference between a definite and an indefinite article?
5. Why are there more definite and indefinite articles in Spanish than English?
B. Change the definite article to the indefinite article before each noun in the following exercise.
Example:
DEFINITE ARTICLE INDEFINITE ARTICLE
el papel (the paper) un papel (a paper)
las ventanas (the windows) unas ventanas (some windows)
1. el bolígrafo (the pen) __________________________ (a pen)
2. la conversación (the conversation) ___________________(a conversation)
3. los cuadernos (the folders) ____________________ (some folders)
4. las computadoras (the computers) _________________ (some computers)
5. la silla (the seat) _____________________ (a few chairs)
6. el marcador (the marker) _______________________ (a marker)
7. las mochilas (the backpack) __________________ (some backpacks)
8. la mesa (the table) _________________________ (a table)
9. los escritorios (the desks) ______________________ (a few desks)
10. el libro (the book) ______________________ (some books)
11. la pared (the wall) ______________________ (a few walls)
12. las pantallas (the screens) ____________________ (some screens)
13. el celular (the cellphone) ______________________ (a cellphone)
14. los programas (the programs) ____________________ (some programs)
15. la madre (the mother) _________________________(a mother)
16. el padre (the father) __________________________ (a father)
17. los padres (the parents) ______________________ (some parents)
18. el perro (the dog) _____________________________(a dog)
19. los gatos (the cats) __________________________(some cats)
20. el hámster (the hamster) __________________________ (a hamster)
C. Translate the following phrases into Spanish.
1. a restaurant
2. the restaurant
3. the book
4. some children
5. the class
6. the university
7. the universities
8. a chair
9. some computers
10. the computer
11. the cat
12. some dogs
13. the teachers (f.)
14. the teacher (m.)
15. some students
16. a family
17. a book
18. the pencil
19. the pencils
20. a class
D. The Spanish language uses articles more than English. The song La Bamba is a traditional Mexican folk song and wedding dance from the Mexican state of Veracruz that uses the definite article LA a great deal. Listen to this song and think about what you have learned about definite and indefinite articles.
E. The song El Chico del Apartamento 512 uses the definite article EL and the contraction DEL. Listen to this song and pay attention to when she uses the words EL and DEL. Which song did you like better? Why?