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Articles
A1Spanish articles agree with the noun in gender and number and contract into 'al' and 'del'.
Overview
Spanish articles agree with the noun in gender and number and contract into 'al' and 'del'.
At a glance
- 1.Definite article: el/la/los/las
- 2.Indefinite article: un/una/unos/unas
- 3.Neuter 'lo' + adjective
- 4.Contraction: a+el=al, de+el=del
- 5.When the article is omitted
- 6.'el' before stressed a-/ha-
Rules
61Definite article: el/la/los/las
The definite article agrees in gender and number: el/los (m), la/las (f).
- el libro, la mesa — the book, the tablesingular m/f
- los libros, las mesas — the books, the tablesplural m/f
2Indefinite article: un/una/unos/unas
The indefinite article is un/una (a), unos/unas means 'some' or 'a few'.
- un coche, una casa — a car, a housesingular m/f
- unos amigos, unas flores — some friends, a few flowersplural = some
3Neuter 'lo' + adjective
'lo' before an adjective forms an abstract noun: 'lo importante' = the important thing.
- Lo importante es escuchar. — The important thing is to listen.no noun
- Lo mejor del día. — The best part of the day.
4Contraction: a+el=al, de+el=del
a and de contract with el into 'al' and 'del'; la/los/las do not contract.
- Voy al cine. — I go to the cinema.a + el
- la puerta del coche — the car doorde + el
- Voy a la playa. — I go to the beach.a la stays
5When the article is omitted
Articles are often dropped before professions, nationalities, and after 'ser'.
- Soy profesor. — I am a teacher.profession, no article
- Ella es española. — She is Spanish.nationality
6'el' before stressed a-/ha-
Feminine words starting with stressed a/ha take 'el' in singular but stay feminine.
- el agua fría — the cold waterfem., but el
- las aguas — the watersplural: las
Test
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