Use of Definite & Indefinite Articles
Although there are excellent concise references on this topic, and there are a number of threads on the use of articles, I am still confused about when to use or omit them. An example came up today: Which is correct "cuando era una niña" or "cuando era niña"? Are there any rules or guidelines on this?
Some more examples: el cinturón de hombros o el cinturón de los hombros (shoulder belt in a car) el zapato de salón o el zapato del salón (pump style women's shoe)
2 Answers
In the case: "cuando era una niña" or "cuando era niña" both are correct.
As regards the other examples:
el cinturón de hombros o el cinturón de los hombros (shoulder belt in a car).... I wouldn't express it that way... I'd say "el cinturón de seguridad del auto"
el zapato de salón o el zapato del salón (pump style women's shoe)... it's "zapato de salón" ... de salón is an adjetive... you can also say: zapato de baile, zapato de tango, zapato de taco alto, etc.
I've found some notes about articles. Hope you find them useful!
Use a definite article (el, los, la, las) to single out a specific person, place, etc. • Las plumas están en la mesa. (The pens are on the table.) • La profesora Ugalde está en su oficina. (Professor Ugalde is in her office.) • El bolígrafo está en la mesa. (The pen is on the table.) • El señor Arriagada está aquí. (Mr. Arriagada is here.) • Los examenes no son difíciles. (The exams are not difficult.)
Nouns used in a general sense are proceeded by the definite article. • El hombre es un animal inteligente. (Man is an intelligent animal.) • Me gustan los carros modernos. (I like modern cars.)
Use before each noun in a series. • Pongan los libros, los papeles y las plumas en el suelo. (Put the books, papers, and pens on the floor.) • Visitó al hermano y al padre de su amigo. (Note: al = a + el) (He visited his friend’s brother and father.)
The definite article is used with titles that indicate social position or profession. The article is ommitted when directly addressing that person. • El profesor Sánchez es de Puerto Rico. (Professor Sanchez is from Puerto Rico.) • El presidente Clinton es de Arkansas. (President Clinton is from Arkansas.) • “¿ Cómo está, profesor Sánchez?” (How are you, professor Sanchez?)
Use the masculine plural form before the last name of a family when referring to the whole family. • Los García ya no viven aquí. (The Garcia family (Garcias) no longer lives here.
The definite article (not a possessive adjective; my, yours, his, hers, etc.) is generally used with parts of the body and articles of clothing in Spanish. • María tiene las manos limpias. (María’s hands are clean.) • Tengo frío porque no traje el abrigo. (I am cold because I didn’t bring my coat.)
The definite articles are used with days of the week, seasons of the year, and telling time. • No trabajo el sabado. (I don’t work on Saturday.) • Los sábados miro caricaturas. (On Saturdays I watch cartoons.) • La primavera es mi estación favorita. (Spring is my favorite season.) • Es la una de la tarde. (It is one o’clock in the afternoon.) Note: Do not use the definite article with months.
Spanish uses the definite article with the words más (more) and menos (less) to form the superlative. (When comparing more than two items.) • Carlos es el (estudiante) más inteligente del grupo. (Note: del = de + el) (Carlos is the most intelligent of the group.) • Su casa es la más vieja. (His house is the oldest.) • El estudiante flaco es el menos preparado. (The thin student is the least prepared.)
Use before geographic names (oceans, rivers, lakes, mountains, deserts, etc.) • En la frontera entre los dos países queda el lago Titicaca. (Lake Titicaca is located on the border between the two countries.) Note: The definite article is generally not used with names of countries or cities. Note: There are only two contractions in Spanish. a + el = al de + el = del but do not contract the following: a la de la a los de los a las de las
Use of Indefinite Articles (un, unos, una, unas)
Used to refer to entities not specified. • Hay una niña en la cocina. (There is a girl in the kitchen.) • Debes comprar una computadora. (You should buy a computer.)
Plural forms are used to express “some, few, several.” • En la mesa hay unos libros nuevos. (On the table are a few new books.)
Use after “sin, con” and with negative expressions to emphasize the number. • No tiene ni un solo amigo. (He doesn’t have a single friend.) • No ha dicho ni una palabra. (She hasn’t said a single word.) • Mi esposa no me deja con un centavo. (My wife doesn’t leave me with one cent.)
Use of the Neutral Article (Lo)
- Use “lo” before adjectives, possessive adjectives, and perfect participle forms to change the adjectives and perfect participle forms to nouns. • Lo bueno de esto es que nos permite practicar. (Bueno is an adjective) (The good thing about this is that it permits us to practice.) • Todo lo mío es tuyo. (Everything that is mine is yours.) (Mío is a possessive adjective) • Lo escrito presenta una historia de una época. (Escrito is the participle form) (What has been written presents a history of an epoch.)
Have you all seen Benz's answer?! Ah, this is great...bookmarked!
