When is the definite article used(el/la) after de?

Question

I did search the forum, but I couldn't find any threads related to this matter. When are you supposed to add/omit the definite article after "de" or even omit "de" itself when speaking of compound words? For example, it's el sitio web instead of el sitio de web ("de" omitted); it's el fin de semana (definite article omitted); el departamento de la oficina (definite article used).

I really want to know when to omit/use definite articles after "de" or even omit "de" itself when writing.

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Ok, let me try to put it in a different way. I'm talking about when compound words get translated into Spanish. For example, when you say "weekend" in Spanish, you say "el fin de semana", but is it also ok to say "el fin de LA semana"? Ïs it ok to say "el departamento de oficina" instead of "el departamento de LA oficina"? Are they both gramatically correct? When compound words get translated into Spanish, is it ok to omit the definite article that gets placed in front of the noun?

Answer 1

Whether el or la follows the de has more to do with the noun/pronoun (object of the preposition) or the purpose of the prepositional phrase than with the preposition itself. Therefore, the answer to your question can only be when you wish to say "of the" or "from the", etc.

• Es de Ud. (to show possession.)
• Es de madera. ((to show composition).
• Es de Uruguay (to show origin).
• Es de los Estados Unidos. (the los is used because of the object of the prepositional phrase).
• ...de las siete a las nueve de la noche (from 7 to 9 p.m.)

de Carmen (from Carmen)

• de la que
• de las cual the la/las are required here, since the relative pronoun follow a preposition.

Each of these purposes or contexts along with the noun that follows will decide if the definite article is needed. There is no general rule as there are dozens (or more) of the uses with de as the preposition.

The purpose of the phrase (or the object) determines whether or not you use el or la.

Thanks. It's still not clear to me, but a bit clearer now... ;) - Behemoth, Oct 21, 2009

Answer 2

Es de los Estados Unidos. (the los is used because of the object of the prepositional phrase).

Don't understand this explanation at all.

Es de Mexico. / Es de Colombia. / Es de España. / ad nauseum. In the case of the U.S., I would suspect that the "los" is used, not because of the phrase (prepositional or otherwise) but, rather, because for many, "los Estados Unidos" is taken to be a unit (functions as a single name).

Answer 3

I don't understand your question at all. You are talking about 'de' or about 'el/la'?

El sitio web vs el sitio de web is a very particular example that does not follow gramatical rules since is a translation.

Si, estoy muy confundida tambien. ^-^" - Chobit, Oct 21, 2009