Definite Article mystery...

In English, the definite article, the, is used before a noun to identify a specific person, place, animal, thing or idea. The Spanish Definite Article has to agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies, this means that in Spanish we have 4 definite articles: el, la, los, and las all translating into English as "the."

 

When do we use them?

 

1. Whenever we are speaking in general terms...

• In English we say: I like sports. (no sport in specific, just sports).
• In Spanish we need the definite article before the noun, even though it doesn't translate...we still need it. Me gustan los deportes.

 

2. Definite articles are used with some cities...you'll have to memorize them. Here are the few that I know, there may be more:  el Cairo, la Florida, el Congo, las Filipanas, el Líbano, la Habana, la Mancha, la Argentina, el Canadá, la Florida, el Japón, el Tibet, el Uruguay, el Paraguay, el Perú, la China, los Estados Unidos

 

3. Definite articles are also used when discussing languages: el italiano, el francés, el español...
However, if the language is after en, de, hablar, or saber the definite article is usually omitted...

• El español es fácil, pero el ruso es difícil. Spanish is easy, but Russian is hard.
• Habla español es fácil, pero habla ruso es difícil. Speaking Spanish is easy, but speaking Russian is hard.
   

4. It is used when talking about a person with a title, but not directly to the person. If you're using the titles "don, doña, san or santo" you don't use the Definite Article.

• Voy a hablar con la Señora Moore.  "Hola, Señora Moore."
• Don Julio es muy amable, pero doña María es muy mandóna.

5. It is used to show possession with reflexive verbs and body parts, clothing or other very personal items.

• Me lavo la cara.
• Te vistes los pantalones.
• Ponte la chaqueta, hace mucho frío.

6. El vs La... there are nouns that are FEMININE, but they use "el" and NOT "la" in the singular form, BUT the plural form uses "LAS". These nouns begin with a stressed "a" sound (usually spelled with an "a" or  "ha"). Here are some of the more common examples:

• el agua   ...   las aguas (water)
• el ama   ...   las amas (soul)
• el hambre   ...   las hambres (hunger)
• el águila   ...   las águilas (eagle)
• el hacha   ...   las hachas (axe)

NOW... "el" is used if it comes directly in front of the noun, but the noun is FEMININE...

• el hacha nueva
• el hambre excesiva
• el alma amable .... BUT
• la pura agua
• la gran águila

7. We use the definite articles in SPANISH before the days of the week, but not in ENGLISH.

• Trabajo los lunes por la mañana. ... I work on Mondays in the morning. (I work Monday mornings.)
• Hay una prueba el martes en la clase de español. ( There's a quiz on Tuesday in Spanish class.)

8. We use the Definite articles for some phrases that use "a" or "en."

• en la escuela   ...   in or at school
• al colegio   ...   to school
• en la clase   ...    in class
• en la iglesia   ...   in or at church
• en la universidad   ...   in or at college

Hope this helps...
Ciao,
MLMoore