DEFINITE ARTICLES
1. The definite article,
the
(
el-los, la-las)
is used to qualify nouns and their meaning.
BOX 39
In Spanish
there are four forms of the
definite article,
the
.
In English, there is only one.
2. Use
with nouns that are generic or
abstract to indicate general likes and
dislikes.
I like history.
Me gusta la historia.
3. Use
with nouns listed in a series.
I bought milk, bread, and fruit.
Yo compré la leche, la fruta, y el pan.
4. Use
with titles.
Mr. Lopez arrives at one o’clock.
El Señor Lopez llega a la una.
Mrs. Lopez arrives at two o’clock.
La Señora Lopez llega a las dos.
5. Don’t use
in direct address.
Mr. Lopez, you finally arrived!
¡Señor Lopez, por fin llegó!
6. Use
before scholastic subjects.
I am studying English and science.
Yo estoy estudiando el inglés y la ciencia.
7. Use
with days of the week and seasons.
The party is Monday.
La fiesta es el lunes.
It is cold in winter.
Hace frio en el invierno.
8. Use
when expressing time.
It is one o’clock.
Es la una.
It is two o’clock.
Son las dos.
9
. When
the
is used with
casa
, it means
house (la casa)
.
Without it, it means
home (casa)
.
USES OF THE
THE
The
el-los
la-las
LA-LAS (Feminine)
EL-LOS (Masculine)
THE
la-las (f)
el-los (m)
AGREEMENT
THE
In addition the adjective,
negro (black)
as well as the definite articles,
el/los-–la/las (the),
always agree with
the noun they modify.
Singular Plural
el mono negro los monos negros (m)
la cebra negra las cebras negras (f)
La
is used to describe feminine
(f),
singular
(s)
nouns.
the zebra – la cebra
Las
is used to describe feminine
(f),
plural
(pl)
nouns.
the zebras – las cebras
El
is used to describe masculine
(m),
singular
(s)
nouns.
the monkey – el mono
Los
is used to describe masculine
(m),
plural
(p)
nouns.
the monkeys – los monos
245
Grammar
Gramática
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