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Master the use of Spanish articles with this lesson on defined and undefined forms: learn el, la, los, las (the) and un, una, unos, unas (a, some) with examples like el libro and una casa.
  1. The article agrees with the noun (gender and number).
  2. The article comes before the noun.
  3. There are 4 definite articles.
  4. There are 4 indefinite articles.
Artículos definidos (Definite articles)Masculino (Masculine)Femenino (Feminine)
Singular (Singular)El
(El libro (The book))		La
(La casa (The house))
Plural (Plural)Los
(Los libros (The books))		Las
(Las casas (The houses))
Artículos indefinidos (Indefinite articles)Masculino (Masculine)Femenino (Feminine)
Singular (Singular)Un
(Un libro (A book))		Una
(Una casa (A house))
Plural (Plural)Unos
(Unos libros (Some books))		Unas
(Unas casas (Some houses))

Exercise 1: Los artículos en español

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

La, Las, El, la, Los, Unas, el

1.
... pueblo de María es pequeño y bonito.
(Maria's village is small and pretty.)
2.
... ciudades de España son muy bonitas.
(Some cities in Spain are very beautiful.)
3.
Madrid es ... ciudad más grande de España.
(Madrid is the largest city in Spain.)
4.
España es ... país donde vivo.
(Spain is the country where I live.)
5.
... nacionalidades en mi clase son variadas.
(The nationalities in my class are varied.)
6.
... países de Europa son muy diversos.
(The countries of Europe are very diverse.)
7.
... nacionalidad de Juan es española.
(Juan's nationality is Spanish.)
8.
... pueblos de la región tienen mucha historia.
(The villages of the region have a lot of history.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. ¿De dónde eres? Soy de ____.

(Where are you from? I am from ____.)

2. Vivo en ____ capital de Francia, París.

(I live in ____ capital of France, Paris.)

3. Ella es ____ y vive en Portugal.

(She is ____ and lives in Portugal.)

4. En ____ se hablan varios idiomas.

(In ____ several languages are spoken.)

5. ____ Países Bajos tienen muchas regiones interesantes.

(____ Netherlands have many interesting regions.)

6. Vivo en ____ ciudad bonita en el Reino Unido.

(I live in ____ beautiful city in the United Kingdom.)

Understanding Spanish Articles: A Comprehensive Guide

In this lesson, you will learn about the two main types of articles in Spanish: definite articles and indefinite articles. Mastering articles is essential, as they agree with the noun they accompany in both gender and number, and they always appear before the noun.

Definite Articles

Definite articles specify particular items or people. They come in four forms, depending on gender and number:

  • El (singular masculine) — e.g., El libro
  • La (singular feminine) — e.g., La casa
  • Los (plural masculine) — e.g., Los libros
  • Las (plural feminine) — e.g., Las casas

Indefinite Articles

Indefinite articles refer to nonspecific items. Like definite articles, they agree with the noun they modify:

  • Un (singular masculine) — e.g., Un libro
  • Una (singular feminine) — e.g., Una casa
  • Unos (plural masculine) — e.g., Unos libros
  • Unas (plural feminine) — e.g., Unas casas

Key Points to Remember

  • Spanish articles change depending on the gender (masculine or feminine) and the number (singular or plural) of the noun.
  • The article always comes before the noun.
  • Pay attention to the difference between definite and indefinite articles, as each serves a distinct purpose.

Comparing Spanish Articles with English

Unlike English, which has only one definite article (the) and two indefinite articles (a, an), Spanish articles vary to reflect the gender and number of the noun. For example:

  • English: the book / the house
  • Spanish: El libro / La casa

This agreement makes Spanish articles more detailed but also more precise when identifying nouns.

Useful Vocabulary and Expressions

  • El libro — The book
  • La casa — The house
  • Un libro — A book
  • Una casa — A house
  • ¿De dónde eres? Soy de Italia. — Where are you from? I am from Italy.
  • Vivo en la capital de Francia, París. — I live in the capital of France, Paris.

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