Article or no article / Artículo o no artículo

Question

viejito

La nota se puede tocar por guitarra. (in this setting (se) lets you know that the action is personal to the note. (sort of like reflexive…but passive)

The note can be played by guitar.

La nota fue tocado por los músicos.

The note was played by the muscians.

In this setting, the note is not playing, but is being acted upon by the guitar.

La puerta fue abierta por el niño. The door was opened by the child.

The door did not act, but was acted upon by the child.

Se descubrieron los cadáveres.

Gracias a todos por sus explicaciónes. Otra pregunta por favor. Porque no hay un artículo antes de guitarra? Hay artículos en todos las demás. Muchas gracias de antemano.

Interesting question! I wonder what the answers will be... - PumpkinCalabaza, Aug 4, 2012

Hola Pumpkin! Articles seem to be a big problem for me. Cordobesa always explains when I make a mistake, but I make them often. - 0095ca4c, Aug 4, 2012

I make a ton of mistake too. I try to offer sound footing, but am happy when others don't rub my mistakes in my face. Thats why this site is good. We all help each other. Know one is so good that they can't make mistakes. Even the veterans and bilinguals. - viejito, Aug 4, 2012

I am super jealous of people who are bilingual... :) - PumpkinCalabaza, Aug 4, 2012

Answer 1

Se puede tocarla por guitarra

A more literal translation to the above sentece is;

One can/you can play it by guitar. The object pronoun (it) represents the direct object noun (note). (i.e.....the note is)

Tocarla is referencing the (note)

When you say… Se habla Español aquí. Spanish is spoken here…you are referencing Spanish.

But, you are literally saying…One speaks/you speak,(i.e. it is) Spanish here. ?

Hola viejito! ¿Porque no hay artículo antes de guitarra, pero hay antes de músicos? ¿ No es lo mismo? - 0095ca4c, Aug 4, 2012

Because, in this case, “an article” can single out the guitar as “by the guitar” instead of “by guitar”. ☺ - viejito, Aug 4, 2012

Gracias viejito. I understand 'by guitar'. Can we also say 'by musicians' in the same way? - 0095ca4c, Aug 4, 2012

Answer 2

Buenos días, Margharite.

This is one of the difficult aspects of learning any language and you must learn them as you go along instead of applying one certain rule.

Here's an article that gives some guidelines.

• Don't use the article before ordinal numbers for names of rulers and similar people. Luis octavo (Luis the Eighth), Carlos quinto (Carlos the Fifth).

• In some proverbs (or statements made in a proverbial fashion) omit the article. Camarón que se duerme, se lo lleva la corriente. (The shrimp that falls asleep gets carried away by the current.) Perro que ladra no muerde. (The dog that barks doesn't bite.)

• When used in nonrestrictive apposition, the article is often omitted.

• In certain set phrases that don't follow any particular pattern. Examples: A largo plazo (in the long run), en alta mar (on the high seas).

• Days of the week: Days of the week typically are preceded by either el or los, depending...

E T C....

Thank you very much Mariana. I will read the article. I have read many of them, but I seem to choose all the exceptions when I write something. I will perservere. :-) - 0095ca4c, Aug 4, 2012

Answer 3

Even in English we don't need the article.

It (the note) can be played by guitar. Se puede tocarla por guitarra

It was played on the guitar Se tocó en la guitarra

Hi there...I see what you are saying. What about the second example? viejito had an article in that one, but is it necessary or correct? I'm sorry, I'm a tad slow to get this today. - 0095ca4c, Aug 4, 2012

Because, in this case, “an article” can single out the guitar as “by the guitar” instead of “by guitar”. What you are after is…(by guitar…in general) In “La nota” the note is singled out….The note.☺ - viejito, Aug 4, 2012