15 Definite and Indefinite articles

1. Definite articles:

• The definite article is used with specific nouns.

La sal está en la cocina.   The salt is in the kitchen.

Dame los platos rojos primero.  Give me the red plates first.

Necesito las tazas y los platillos.  I need the cup and saucers.

Note: Unlike English, the Spanish definite article is generally used before each noun in a series, rather than before the first noun only.

Quiero la sal y la pimienta, por favor.  I want the salt and pepper, please.

 

• The definite article is used with collective or generic nouns and with nouns conveying an abstract sense.

Collective nouns

Me gusta el pan.  I like bread (all bread).

La política es un negocio sucio.  Politics is a dirty business.

Los amigos son necesarios.  Friends are necessary.

Las blusas de seda son mejores.  Silk blouses are better.

               Abstract nouns

Dame la libertad o dame la muerte.  Give me freedom or give me death.

Necesitamos la paz y la justicia.  We need peace and justice.

 

• The absence of the definite article before a collective or abstract noun conveys the sense of a whole.

This “partitive” sense is usually expressed in English as some or any. Compare the following Spanish and English examples.

¿No queda pan?  Isn’t there any bread left?

Quiero galletas.  I want some biscuits.

No hay huevos, pero hay carne.  There aren’t any eggs, but there is some meat.

No hay justicia.  There isn’t any justice.

 

• The definite article is used instead of the possessive pronoun with parts of the body and articles of clothing.

Dame la mano, José.  Give me your hand, José.

No quiero llevarme la bolsa.  I don’t want to take my purse.

Los niños se lavaron las manos.  The children washed their hands.

Miguel nunca se pone el traje azul.  Miguel never wears his blue suit.

Dejé la cartera en casa.  I left my wallet at home.

 

• The definite article is used with the days of the week, meaning on.

Llegaré el lunes.  I will arrive on Monday.

Los trabajadores descansan los domingos.  The workers have a day off on Sundays.

No hay clase el jueves.  There is no class this Thursday.

Note: Spanish uses the singular rather than the plural article to distinguish between an event happening on one day (el jueves) and a customary event (los jueves). English is more likely to use the demonstrative adjective.

 

• The definite article is used with the names of languages. An exception to this rule occurs when the names of languages follow the verb hablar and the prepositions en and de. The definite article may or may not be used after the verb entender.

Quiero estudiar el japonés.I want to study Japanese.

                 Dicen que el ruso es difícil.They say Russian is difficult.

No entienden (el) inglés.The don’t understand English.

BUT

                 Los niños hablan español en casa.  The children speak Spanish at home.

                 Hablamos inglés en la escuela.  We speak English at school.

                 Soy profesora de francés.  I am a French teacher.

                ¿La película está en francés o en inglés?  Is the movie in French or English?

 

• The definite article is used with certain geographical names but not with others.

La India             El Reino Unido                El Salvador               La Coruña                La Mancha

        La Pampa          (Los) Estados Unidos

 

• The definite article is used with titles of people except in forms of direct address.

Los señores López han salido ya.   Mr. And Mrs. López have already left.

         El doctor Méndez tiene cuarenta años.   Dr. Méndez is forty years old.

BUT

Señores López, ¡qué gusto verles!    Mr. and Mrs. López, how nice to see you!

Señor Presidente, haga el favor de sentarse.  Mr. President, please sit down.

 

• The definite article is used with expressions of quantity. In English, the indefinite articles a or an are usually used with expressions of quantity. Compare the following examples.

        Los huevos cuestan 90 céntimos la docena.    Eggs cost 90 cents a dozen.

        La ternera cuesta 30 euros el kilo.     Veal costs 30 euros a kilo.

 

2. Indefinite articles

• In its singular forms, un and una, the indefinite article may mean either one or a. The context of the sentence will clarify the meaning.

Tengo una casa bonita.  I have a pretty house.

Tengo solamente una casa.  I have only one house.

 

• In its plural forms, unos and unas, the indefinite article may mean either some or a few.

Tengo unos discos estupendos en casa.  I have some terrific discs at home.

Note: Unos may also be used with cuantos or pocos to mean a few.

¿Tienes unos discos nuevos?  Do you have some new records?

Sí, tengo unos cuantos (unos pocos) en casa.  Yes, I have quite a few (not many) at home.

 

• The indefinite article is frequently omitted in Spanish.  Unlike English, the indefinite article is omitted before an unmodified noun that follows the verb ser.

Unmodified Noun

Soy escritora.  I am a writer.

Es médico.  He is a doctor.

Es francés.  He is French.

Modified Noun

Soy una buena escritora.  I am a good writer.

Es un médico inteligente.  He is an intelligent doctor.

Es un francés muy educado.  He is a well-bred French.

Note: The indefinite article is frequently omitted before certain nouns when they are used in a generic or unspecific sense.

No tengo casa.  I don’t have a house (any house).

Necesito trabajo.  I need work (any kind).

 

• The indefinite article is omitted before words like otro(a), cien, mil and medio(a).

Quiero otra copa.  I want another drink.

Necesito otro coche.  I need another car.

Gané cien dólares.  I made a hundred dollars.

Quiero vivir mil años.  I want to live a thousand years.

Quiero medio vaso de leche.  I want half a glass of milk.

Dame media docena de huevos.  Give me half a dozen of eggs.

 

• The indefinite article is omitted in the exclamation ¡qué! plus a noun.¡Qué! Plus a noun translates as “What a(n)”.

¡Qué idiota!  What an idiot!

¡Qué lástima!  What a pity!

¡Qué muchacha más bonita!  What a pretty girl!

 

• The indefinite article is used before each noun in a series.

Quiero una hamburguesa y unas patatas fritas.   I want a hamburger and some French fries.

Compré una blusa y una falda.  I bought a blouse and a skirt.