Definite and Indefinite Articles

1
Definite and Indefinite Articles

• Definite articles the in English refer to
  specific things or people. Indefinite articles a
  or an in English refer to nonspecific things or
  people.
• I want to read the book that you have.
• a specific book
• I want to read a book.
• any book no book in particular
• Because articles are adjectives, in Spanish,
  Definite and Indefinite articles must agree with
  the noun they describe in gender and number.

2

• In Spanish the Definite articles the are el
  or la, depending upon the gender of the noun.
  el is masculine and la is feminine
• El colegio the high school
• la escuela the school

3

• In Spanish the Indefinite articles a or an
  are un or una.
• Un colegio a high school
• Una escuela a school
• Un avión an airplane
• una manzana an apple
• Un and una can also mena one when used before a
  singular noun.
• Tengo dos cuadernos y un lápiz.
• I have two notebooks and one pencil.

4

• The plural forms of el and la are los and las.
  The plural forms of un and una are unos and unas.
  Unos and unas are usually translated as some.
• Los libros están en la mesa. The books are on
  the table.
• Unos libros están en la mesa. Some books are on
  the table.
• Las revistas están en la mesa. The magazines are
  on the table.
• Unas revistas están en la mesa. Some magazines
  are on the table.