GRAMMAR

1.5 Definite Articles

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Video Lesson

Activate [SUBTITLES] in English

TRANSCRIPTION

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Quick Summary

The definite articles are used to refer to specific nouns (persons or things). 

​The four definite articles are all translated as "the" in English.

How to use them
1. The definite article always goes before the noun.

• Los postres aquí son ricos. (The desserts here are delicious.)

2. The definite article you use must agree in number and gender with the noun it precedes.

• ¿Quieres ir al bosque o las montañas para las vacaciones? (Do you want to go to the forest or the mountains for vacation?)

3. The article “el” combines with “a” and “de” to form a contraction.

• Fui al parque ayer. (a + el = al) (I went to the park yesterday.)
• José es un amigo del trabajo. (de + el = del) (José is a afriend from work.)

When to use them
The definite article is used:

1. To talk about a specific person or thing (whose identity is already clear)

• Entregan la tarea de casa a la profesora. (They turn in the homework to the teacher.)
• El presidente de la compañía es polémico.  (The president of the company is controversial.)

2. To talk about certain things in a general sense

• Quiero ir al cinema. (I want to go to the movies.)
• Él se enfermó y ahora está en el hospital. (He got sick and  now he's in the hospital.)

3. To say on what day of the week or date something is going to happen (in this case, "el" means "on")

• Tengo una cita importante el jueves. (I have an important date on Thursday.)
• Mi cumpleaños es el quince de junio. (My birthday is the fifteenth of June.) 

4. Before a person's title, unless you are talking directly with the person

• La Señora García es mi vecina. (Mrs. Garcia is my neighbor.)
• Hola, Señora García. ¿Cómo está Ud.? (Hello, Mrs. Garcia. How are you?)

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