Nouns & Articles - Los Sustantivos y los artículos

4. Nouns & Articles (English)

This lesson includes information on:

1. Definite Article
2. Gender of Nouns
3. Plural Nouns
4. Indefinite Article
5. Definite Article "lo"

1. Definite Article

In English, the definite article "the" is used to modify any noun. In Spanish, the definite article changes when the noun is plural and depending on the gender. In English, nouns like telephone and apple are genderless. In Spanish, nouns are considered either masculine or feminine. Masculine nouns are preceded by el (singular) or los (plural). Feminine nouns are preceded by la (singular) or las (plural). For example:

Definite articles are typically used:

• To communicate an abstract concept. For example, "La verdad es necesaria para la justicia (The truth is necessary for justice)."
• With a series of nouns. For example, "Mira la manzana, la naranja y el banano (Look at the apple, orange and banana)."
• When telling the time of day, "Es la una (it is one o'clock)."
• With the days of the week, (replacing "on" in English) except when following the verb "ser". For example, "Tengo una lección el sabado (I have a lesson on Saturday)."
• With the seasons. For example, "Voy a ir a Guatemala en el verano (I am going to Guatemala in the summer)."
• With weights and measures (replacing "per" in English). For example, "El arroz cuesta 2 dólares la libra (Rice costs $2 per pound)."
• With the parts of the body or articles of clothing instead of the possessive pronoun (i.e., yours/mine/his/etc.). For example, "Dejé los zapatos en el cuarto (I lefty my shoes in the room)."
• Before a proper name when it is modified by an adjective. For example, "Mira el pequeño Ricardo (Look at little Richard)."
• When speaking about (not speaking directly to) people with titles. For example, "Tengo que visitar la doctor (I have to visit the woman doctor)."
• Before the names of languages but not after hablar, de or en. For example, "El español es fácil para enseñar (Spanish is easy to teach)."

Exception: The definite article "el" precedes feminine nouns that begin with an "a" when the stress is on the first syllable. This is done to avoid placing "la" before words like "agua" creating "la agua", which is difficult to pronounce. However, when the stress is not on the first syllable the definite article "la" is used: For example:

2. Gender of Nouns

Most nouns that end in "o"are considered masculine and those that end in "a" are considered feminine. For example:

Here are the most common exceptions where a masculine word ends in "a" and a feminine word ends in "o".

Nouns ending in -dad, -tad,-tud, -ción, and -umbre are always feminine, including their plural forms. Here are few examples: la composición, las composiciones

Nouns that end in -dor and -sor are typically masculine and can be converted to feminine by adding an "a" at the end.

The nouns for persons and animals will end in "o" if the are masculine and in "a" if they are feminine.

Some nouns and those that end in -ista, -ante, or -ente do not change for masculine or femine. The gender of these nouns is indicated by the definite article preceding it. For example,

3. Plural Nouns

There are only 4 rules for making nouns plural:

1. If the noun ends in a vowel add "s"

2. If the noun ends in a consonant ad "es"

3. If the noun ends in an "s" do not change the word

4. If the noun ends in a "z" change the "z" to a "c" and ad "es"

4. Indefinite Article

The Spanish indefinite article "un" or "una" translates to "a" or "one" with singular nouns. "Unos" and "unas" translates to "some" with plural nouns. For example:

Just like the definite article, the indefinite article "un" precedes feminine nouns that begin with an "a" when the stress is on the first syllable. This is done to avoid placing "una" before words like "agua" creating "una agua", which is difficult to pronounce. However, when the stress is not on the first syllable the indefinite article "una" is used. For example:

Indefinite articles are used with a series of nouns. For example, "Mira una manzana, una naranja y un banano (Look at an apple, an orange and a banana)."

In Spanish, indefinite articles are often omitted where you might use them in English. Indefinite articles are not used:

· Before an unmodified noun after a form of the verb "ser" (to be). For example,

· When the noun is not of a specific nature and typically following the verbs: tener (to have), necesitar (to need), buscar (to look for). For example, "Voy a necesitar trabajo (I will need a job)"

· With otro (another), medio (half), cien (100), mil (1000), con (with), sin (without). For example,

5. Definite Article "lo"

"Lo" is used prior to an adjective that is acting like a noun. It roughly translates to an indefinite "thing" or "part". For example, "Lo bueno es que el viaje ha terminado (The good thing is that the trip has ended)."