| When considering the definite article in the Spanish | | | | how exactly definite articles are used. It is always used |
| language, there are four forms that you can use. The | | | | with a noun when you make a general statement, |
| singular and plural masculine forms (el and los), and the | | | | such as I like books, which would translate to me |
| singular and plural feminine forms (la and las) are these | | | | gustan los libros. Los would be the definite article in that |
| four definite articles. When using this article, it is critical | | | | sentence. It is always used in front of nouns that are |
| that you ensure that it agrees in both gender and | | | | used to indicate one's profession or title prior to their |
| number with the noun that is being modified. For | | | | name. For example, Senator Lancaster is short would |
| example, when describing a pen, it would be correct to | | | | translate to el senador Lancaster es bajo. The el that |
| say la pluma. However, when describing multiple pens, | | | | is placed before senador represents the definite article. |
| it would not make sense to say la plumas, as the | | | | Other instances when it is used are with the name of |
| definite article is not agreeing in number with the | | | | subject matter, with parts of the body or articles of |
| modified noun. | | | | clothing, with seasons of the year, with proper nouns |
| There are always exceptions to any rule, however, as | | | | modified by adjectives, and lastly, when an infinitive is |
| is the case with the feminine form. One of the primary | | | | used as a noun. |
| exceptions that exists in the Spanish language is with | | | | There are times, though, when the definite article is |
| the feminine nouns that begin with a or ha, such as | | | | omitted from the context. An example of this omission |
| agua or hambre. While these both use feminine articles | | | | would be the statement, "I speak Spanish," which |
| in the plural sense, they use masculine articles in the | | | | translates to Hablo español. The masculine form |
| singular sense. While somebody might say "Tengo | | | | el is left out prior to español because it is always |
| mucha hambre," which means I am very hungry, | | | | omitted after the verb hablar when the name of a |
| hambre uses the masculine article when in its singular | | | | language comes immediately after it. The definite |
| form. The rule regarding a and ha does not apply, | | | | article is also omitted after prepositions en and de |
| however, to definite articles placed in front of | | | | when the name of a language or subject matter |
| adjectives. Thus, the tall mountain would be conjugated | | | | follows. While it is used prior to an infinitive that starts a |
| to la alta montaña. In summary of this exception, | | | | sentence, it is always omitted when the infinitive does |
| the definite article of a feminine noun is changed to | | | | not start a sentence. Lastly, it is not used when directly |
| masculine when it is placed in front of the noun starting | | | | addressing a person by their rank or profession. With |
| with a or ha, but it is not changed when placed in front | | | | that said, you have learned the various ways in which |
| of an adjective starting a or ha. | | | | definite articles should and shouldn't be used. |
| With the basics understood, it is important to consider | | | | |