LOS ARTICULOS DEFINIDOS Español 3h

The Definite Articles: Forms Simple: El la Los las

CONTRACTED A + EL = AL (TO THE) VOY AL CINE DE + EL = Del (of/from the) Vengo del cine

LA BECOMES EL Before a feminine noun beginning with a stressed a or ha El agua fria El hacha (ax) Gender of noun is still feminine

GENERAL USES As in English, the definite article introduces a noun used in a specific context. El dinero está en el banco. = The $ is in the bank. Los abogados están en la oficina. = The lawyers are in the office. CORRESPONDS DIRECTLY TO “THE”

UNLIKE ENGLISH The definite article introduces nouns used in a general, abstract, or collective sense. El dinero no trae la felicidad. = (in general), Money does not bring X happiness. Los abogados conocen la ley. = (in general), X Lawyers know the law. Therefore, it is used in Spanish where we would not use it in English.

PARTICULAR USES: #1 - WITH TITLES BUT NOT USED WHEN ADDRESSING A PERSON DIRECTLY El señor martinez El profesor andrade El rey juan carlos La srta. Ortega La doctora mateos La reina sofía

#2 - WITH PARTS OF THE BODY AND PERSONAL POSSESSIONS (Such as clothing) Elena tiene los ojos azules. = Elena has blue eyes. Me lavo las manos. = I’m washing my hands. Ramón se quita la chaqueta. = Ramón takes off his jacket.

#3 – A: WITH DATES SALIMOS EL 2 DE SEPTIEMBRE. = WE ARE LEAVING ON SEPTEMBER SECOND. TENGO UNA CITA EL LUNES, EL ONCE DE OCTUBRE. = I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 11TH.

#3 – B: WITH DAYS OF THE WEEK UNLESS SAYING WHAT DAY IT IS LOS SÁBADOS Y LOS DOMINGOS, NO TENEMOS CLASES. PERO… HOY ES LUNES. (OMIT IN FRONT OF LUNES, SAYING WHAT DAY IT IS.)

Los artículos indefinidos

The indefinite articles FORMS un = a/an una = a/an unos = some/a few unas= some/a few

OMISSION OF the indefinite article With names of professions after the verbs ser and hacerse (to become) UNLESS the profession is modified by an adjective. Mi prima es abogada. Felipe es ingeniero. BUT Mi prima es UNA abogada fantástica

OMIT with the following words Otro (another/other) Tal (such) Medio (half) ¡Qué…! (What a…!) Necesito OTRO lápiz. Dame MEDIA taza de café. ¡Qué bonita casa!

Unos and unas Are often used with numbers to indicate an approximation Hay UNOS veinte estudiantes en la clase. = There are ABOUT 20 students in the class. Saqué UNAS 100 fotos de España durante mis vacaciones allí. = I took ABOUT A HUNDRED pictures of Spain during my vacation there.