Capítulo 1Capítulo 1

Artículos y sustantivosArtículos y sustantivos

(Articles and nouns)(Articles and nouns)

Definite articlesDefinite articles

ElEl and and LaLa are called are called definite articles.definite articles.– Definite articles are specific.Definite articles are specific.– They are the equivalent to They are the equivalent to

the Eng. word “the.”the Eng. word “the.”– ElEl is used with masculine is used with masculine

singular nouns.singular nouns.elel curso cursothe coursethe course

– LaLa is used with feminine is used with feminine singular nounssingular nouns

lala clase clasethe classthe class

Masculine el the

Feminine la the

Indefinite articlesIndefinite articles

UnUn and and una una are called are called indefinite articles.indefinite articles.– Indefinite articles are not Indefinite articles are not

specific.specific.– They are equivalent to the They are equivalent to the

Eng. words “a” or “an.”Eng. words “a” or “an.”– UnUn is used with masculine is used with masculine

singular nouns.singular nouns.un un cursocursoa coursea course

– Una Una is used with feminine is used with feminine singular nouns.singular nouns.

una una claseclasea a classclass

Masculine un a, an

Feminine una a, an

NounsNounsNouns refer to people, Nouns refer to people, animals, places, things, and animals, places, things, and ideas.ideas.

In Spanish, nouns have In Spanish, nouns have gendergender– They are either masculine or They are either masculine or

feminine.feminine.

Most nouns that end in Most nouns that end in –o–o are masculineare masculine

Most nouns that end in Most nouns that end in –a–a are feminine.are feminine.

Masculine Feminine

El curso La escuela

El bolígrafo La hoja de papel

The definite articles The definite articles elel and and lala also also point out if a word is masculine or point out if a word is masculine or feminine. (el is masc. and la is fem.)feminine. (el is masc. and la is fem.)

Both Both el el and and lala mean “the.” mean “the.”

Spanish nouns that end in Spanish nouns that end in –e–e or a or a consonantconsonant must be learned as either must be learned as either masculine or feminine.masculine or feminine.You should practice them with their def. You should practice them with their def. articles, articles, el el or or lala..

Masculine Feminine

El profesor La joven

El lápiz La conversación

Plural Plural articlesarticles

1.1. The singular definite articles are The singular definite articles are el el and and la.la.

2.2. The plural of The plural of el el is is los.los.

3.3. The plural of The plural of lala is is las.las.

4.4. The singular indefinite articles The singular indefinite articles are are un un and and unauna..

5.5. The plural of The plural of unun is is unos.unos.

6.6. The plural of The plural of una una is is unasunas..

7.7. Unos and Unas mean “some” or Unos and Unas mean “some” or “a few.”“a few.”

To make a To make a noun pluralnoun plural

1.1. If a noun ends in a vowel If a noun ends in a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) then you add an –(a,e,i,o,u) then you add an –s to the end of the noun to s to the end of the noun to make it plural.make it plural.

1.1. muchacha muchacha → muchachas→ muchachas

2.2. amigo → amigosamigo → amigos

2.2. If a noun ends in a If a noun ends in a consonant, then you add an consonant, then you add an –es to the end of the noun to –es to the end of the noun to make it plural.make it plural.

1.1. profesor → profesoresprofesor → profesores

2.2. español → españolesespañol → españoles

3.3. Singular nouns that end in Singular nouns that end in zz change to change to c c in the plural in the plural (then you add the –es)(then you add the –es)

1.1. lápiz lápiz → lápices→ lápices

2.2. nariz → naricesnariz → narices

AgreementAgreement

Just as an article and Just as an article and noun must agree when it noun must agree when it is singular, it also must is singular, it also must agree in the plural. agree in the plural.

A plural noun has a A plural noun has a plural article. plural article.

The nouns and articles The nouns and articles must also agree in must also agree in gender (masc. nouns gender (masc. nouns with masc. articles.; fem with masc. articles.; fem nouns with fem articles.)nouns with fem articles.)

Make Make these these pluralplural

El relojEl reloj

La ventanaLa ventana

Un disqueteUn disquete

Una mesaUna mesa

Los relojesLos relojes

Las ventanasLas ventanas

Unos disquetesUnos disquetes

Unas mesasUnas mesas