Definite Article
|
Maskulin |
Feminin |
| Singular |
el |
la |
| Plural |
los |
las |
With the preposition de and a, the article merges el to del and al
Example
Marcos sale del cine a las diez por la noche
Quiero ir al zoológico
Use of the definite article
As a rule, the definite articles “el,” “la,” “los,” and “las” are used in terms that refer to concrete or known things.
The indefinite articles un, una, unos, unas, on the other hand, are used for terms that have not yet been mentioned (new) or are any person or object.
Rules:
time - making time
El verano pasado – last summer
El año que viene – next year
A las cuatro de la tarde – at four o’clock in the afternoon
Son las seis en punto – it’s exactly six o’clock
on weekdays
Los martes hacemos las compras – Tuesdays we buy
El lunes me encuentro con Carmen – On Monday I meet with Carmen
in sports, games and instruments (tocar oder jugar)
Mi hija juega al tenis – My daughter plays tennis
Nos encanta jugar a las cartas – We like to play cards
Mis amigos tocan la guitarra – My friends are playing guitar
always as part of the name
(el) Japón – (el) Perú – (la) Argentina – (la) India
sometimes before local names or proper names
La Habana – El Cairo – La Paz – La Coruña
before family names if a couple or a family is meant
Los Vega – the family / the couple Vega – the Vegas
before forms of address and titles, when someone is being talked about in the third person
Esta es la señora Pérez – that’s missis Pérez
¿Dónde vive el doctor Ortega? – Where lives Dr. Ortega?
in general statements about genus and species
La leche es nutritiva – Milk is nutritious
Los bolivianos hablan lento – Bolivians speak slowly
No me gusta el vino – I do not like wine
Me gustan los animales – I like animals
