Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Quick Guides

Page 1 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 1 preview image

Study GuideSpanish I–Gender Nouns and Articles1.ArticlesWhen you learn a new noun in Spanish, it is important to learnits genderat the same time.The easiest way to do this is by learning the nountogether with an article(liketheora).Articles help you remember whether a word ismasculineorfeminine.1.1Definite Articles (The)Adefinite articleis used when you are talking about aspecific object.•InEnglish, there is onlyonedefinite article:theothe girlothe bookothe manothe chairEnglish articles donotchange based on gender.1.2Definite articles in SpanishInSpanish, definite articlesdo changebased on the gender of the noun.•el=the(used withmasculinenouns)•la=the(used withfemininenouns)This means the article tells you whether the noun is masculine or feminine.

Page 2 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 2 preview image

Study GuideWhat this image shows:•la chica–the girl (feminine)•el libro–the book (masculine)•el hombre–the man (masculine)•la silla–the chair (feminine)You can tell thegender of each nounby looking at whether it useselorla.1.3Indefinite Articles (A / An)Anindefinite articleis used when you are talking about somethingnot specific.•InEnglish, the indefinite article isaoa bookoa chairFor example:•Asking for“a book”is less specific than asking for“the book.”1.4Indefinite articles in SpanishJust like definite articles,Spanish indefinite articles change based on gender.•un=a(used withmasculinenouns)•una=a(used withfemininenouns)What this image shows:•una chica–a girl (feminine)•un libro–a book (masculine)

Page 3 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 3 preview image

Study Guide•un hombre–a man (masculine)•una silla–a chair (feminine)Again, the article (unoruna) helps you remember the noun’s gender.1.5Why Learning Articles Is ImportantAt this stage, it doesnotmatter whether you learn:•el hombreorun hombreWhat matters is that:•el / unhelp you remember the noun ismasculine•la / unahelp you remember the noun isfeminineLater, you will focus more on choosing between“a”and“the.”For now, think of articles astools to help you remember gender.2. Quiz: Articles1.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“noche”?Answer Choices•el•laCorrect AnswerlaWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish, nouns have grammatical gender.“Noche”(night) is afemininenoun, so it uses thefeminine definite article“la.”For example:

Page 4 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 4 preview image

Study Guide•La noche es oscura.(The night is dark.)Even thoughnocheends in-e(which can be masculine or feminine), it isfeminine by rule andusage, solais correct.2.QuestionWhich word for“the”is used with the Spanish word“actriz”?Answer Choices•el•laCorrect AnswerlaWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish, nouns have grammatical gender.•“Actriz”meansactressand is afemininenoun.•Feminine singular nouns use the definite article“la.”For example:•La actrizganó un premio.•(The actress won an award.)Even though“actriz”ends in-z, it refers to a female, solais the correct article.3.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“mapa”?Answer Choices•el•la

Page 5 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 5 preview image

Study GuideCorrect AnswerelWhy This Is CorrectAlthough“mapa”ends in-a, it is amasculinenoun in Spanish.Therefore, it uses the masculine definite article“el.”For example:•el mapa(the map)This is a common exception in Spanish, so it’s important to memorize it.4.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“dilema”?Answer Choices•el•laCorrect AnswerelWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish,dilemais amasculine noun, even though it ends in-a.Many nouns of Greek origin (such asproblema, tema, sistema,anddilema) are masculine.So, the correct form is:el dilema5.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“cooperación”?

Page 6 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 6 preview image

Study GuideAnswer Choices•el•laCorrect AnswerlaWhy This Is Correct“Cooperación”is afeminine nounin Spanish. Most nouns ending in-ciónare feminine, so theyuse the feminine definite articlela.Example:•la cooperación internacional(international cooperation)6.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“papeleras”?Answer Choices•los•lasCorrect AnswerlasWhy This Is Correct•Papelerasends in-as, which usually indicates afeminine pluralnoun in Spanish.•Feminine plural nouns use the definite articlelas.

Page 7 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 7 preview image

Study GuideExample:•las papeleras=the trash cansQuick Rule to Remember:•las→ feminine plural•los→ masculine plural7.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“camarones”?Answer Choices•los•lasCorrect AnswerlosWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish,“camarones”(shrimp) is amasculine pluralnoun.•Many nouns ending in-onesare masculine•The plural masculine definite article islosExample:•los camarones= the shrimplasis used only withfeminine pluralnouns, so it would be incorrect here.8.QuestionWhich word for “a/an” is used with the Spanish word“viaje”?

Page 8 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 8 preview image

Study GuideAnswer Choices•un•una•elCorrect AnswerunWhy This Is CorrectThe Spanish noun“viaje”(trip/journey) ismasculine, even though it ends in-e.In Spanish:•unis used withmasculine singular nouns•unais used withfeminine singular nouns•elmeans“the”, not “a/an”So the correct phrase isun viaje(a trip).9.QuestionWhich word for “the” is used with the Spanish word“muchedumbre”?Answer Choices•el•laCorrect Answerla

Page 9 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 9 preview image

Study GuideWhy This Is CorrectMuchedumbreis afeminine nounin Spanish.Even though it refers to a group of people, its grammatical gender is feminine, so it takes the femininedefinite articlela.Example:•La muchedumbre estaba muy animada.•(The crowd was very lively.)Key rule: The article depends on thegrammatical gender of the noun, not whether it refers to men,women, or a mixed group.10.QuestionWhich word for “a/an” is used with the Spanish word“ordenador”?Answer Choices•un•unaCorrect AnswerunWhy This Is CorrectOrdenadoris amasculinenoun in Spanish (it ends in-or, which is typically masculine).Masculine singular nouns useunfor “a/an,” whileunais used with feminine nouns.Example:•un ordenador→ a computer•una computadora→ also correct, becausecomputadorais feminineSo, the correct choice isun

Page 10 of 40

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 10 preview image

Study Guide11.QuestionMadrid es _____ capital de España.Answer Choices•el•laCorrect AnswerlaWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish,capitalis afeminine noun, so it uses the feminine definite articlela.Therefore, thecorrect sentence is:Madrid eslacapital de España.Even thoughMadridis a city name, the article agrees with the nouncapital, not with the city itself.12.QuestionMiguel de Cervantes es _____ novelista español.Answer Choices•una•unCorrect AnswerunWhy This Is CorrectIn Spanish, articles (un / una) must agree with thegender of the noun, not the ending of the word.•Novelistacan describe both men and women.•Miguel de Cervantes ismale, so the masculine articleunis used.

Preview Mode

This document has 40 pages. Sign in to access the full document!

Report

Learning Tools

Writing Tools

Browse Resources

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles - Page 1

Spanish I - Gender Nouns and Articles

Study Now!

Document Details

Related Documents

Spanish I - Verb Charts

Spanish I - Thematic Vocabulary

Spanish I - The Preterite Tense

Spanish I - The Imperfect Tense

Spanish I - Spelling and Pronunciation

Spanish I - Replacing Nouns with Pronouns

Spanish I - Reflexive, Prepositional, and Demonstrative Pronouns

Spanish I - Prepositions

Spanish I - Negatives

Spanish I - Narration in the Past

Company

Explore

Study Tools