Did you know that the definite articles are used to reference something specific and the indefinite articles, to refer to something in general, not specified?
he, there, them and la are the articles defined in Spanish. In Portuguese, they correspond respectively to O, The, you and at.
The indefinite articles in the Spanish language are: un, unite, ones, some. In Portuguese, they correspond respectively to a, one, some, some.
How about taking a look at the table below and checking some usage examples?
Examples:
- the child is not happy. (The boy is not happy.)
- The friends have gone on a trip. (Friends traveled.)
- Duel me bro derecha. (I have pain in my right hand.)
- the girls are tired. (The girls are tired.)
- Ponga your dresses in a closet. (Put your dresses in a closet.)
- buy me some books. (I bought some books.)
- Call a friend to help me. (I called a friend to help me.)
- Study with people who know you. (I've been with some people who know you.)
O All Matter selected a series of exercises that will help you master the articles in Spanish.
Do the activities below, check out our commented template and learn once and for all to use definite and indefinite articles in Spanish.
Good studies!
Commented issues
1. (UECE/2017)
The option that is completed with the article “it” is:
the area.
b) ____ milk.
c) ____ salt.
d) ____ harina.
Correct alternative: a) ____ area.
The word area is a feminine noun that starts with a The tonic.
As a general rule, when faced with singular nouns in Spanish that begin with The- tonic or there is-, use the article he, regardless of whether it is a masculine noun or not. (Ex.: the water > water).
Therefore, the correct sequence is:
the area
Let's see why the other alternatives are not correct.
The word milk (milk) is a feminine noun. For this reason, the accompanying article is there (la leche > milk).
In Spanish, salt is a feminine noun. Therefore, the accompanying article is there (la salt > the salt).
Harina (flour) is a feminine noun. The definite article used with harina é there (there harina > flour).
2. (Udesc/2015)
The words “del” and “al” are:
a) demos
b) defined articles
c) contractions
d) undefined articles
e) possessive
Correct alternative: c) contracciones
The word del can be translated into Portuguese as of.
del is the contraction of the preposition in with the singular masculine definite article he (O).
Al can be translated into Portuguese as to the.
Al is the contraction of the preposition The with the singular masculine definite article he (O).
Contraction is the union of two words, in which the second usually starts with a vowel.
3. (UECE/2013)
The sentence “Now I can do it with the _________ ripe ones that are in these pears” is correctly completed with:
a) las – determining article.
b) lo – neutral article.
c) el – definite article.
d) lo – direct complement pronoun.
Correct alternative: b) lo – neutral article.
the neutral article it is used in the sentence to emphasize the adjective mature and can be translated as how, like and/or how much.
Lo it can also be used to emphasize adverbs and participles.
Let's see why the other alternatives are wrong:
a) las - determining article: the definite article la is used in front of plural feminine nouns. Despite being a plural feminine word, the word mature performs the function of adjective and not the noun in the sentence.
c) el – definite article: the definite article he (o) is used in front of singular masculine names or in front of words beginning with atonic or there is-.
d) lo – direct complement pronoun: despite the use of it, in this case, to be correct, the grammatical function performed by it is not a complement pronoun, but an article.
When used with the function of direct complement pronoun, O it corresponds to the direct object of the Portuguese language and has the function of complementing a verb, a noun or an adjective.
In the sentence provided, the it is used only to emphasize the word mature.
The gap to be filled is in front of a plural feminine adjective, which invalidates the use of he.
See how the complete sentence looks like:
Now do I care about it ripe that are in these pears.
4. (Udesc)
Indicate the correct sequence of the words that complete the empty spaces of the text.
___ most important in ___ life and knowing how to live with intensity and quality, always seeking ___ horizon and ___ goal to reach.
a) Lo - el - la - un
b) La - una - el - la
c) El - la - la - unite
d) Lo - la - un - one
Correct alternative: d) Lo - la - un - una
From the articles made available as an answer to the first gap:
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the adverbbut (more), so the correct option is the neutral article it.
From the articles made available as an answer to the second gap:
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- unite: indefinite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
The word after the second blank to be filled is the singular feminine noun life. For this reason, the article he, is automatically discarded.
We are then left with two options: there and unite. The text makes reference to life as a condition of existence for human beings and this condition is unique. It is a specific condition common to many people and not just any life.
Therefore, the article that should be used is the definite article. there.
From the articles made available as an answer to the third gap:
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- Un: indefinite article used in front of a singular masculine noun.
The word after the third blank to be filled is the singular masculine noun horizon. For this reason, the article there, is automatically discarded.
We are then left with two options: it and un. The text refers to the horizon as a perspective of the future and not to the line that seems to separate the sky from the land or the sea (this one is unique and specific).
When talking about the search for a horizon, one speaks of a horizon whatever, but one that brings prospects for the future. It is not about a single and specific horizon. What is a horizon for some may not be for others.
Thus, the correct option is un.
From the articles made available as an answer to the fourth gap:
- Un: indefinite article used in front of a singular masculine noun.
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- unite: indefinite article used in front of singular feminine noun
The word after the fourth blank to be filled is the singular feminine noun goal. For this reason, the article un, is automatically discarded.
We are then left with two options: there and unite. The text refers to the goal as an objective.
When talking about the pursuit of a goal, one speaks of any goal that corresponds to something someone wants to achieve; to conquer. It is not a single, specific goal. What is a goal for some may not be for others.
Thus, the correct option is unite.
See how the complete sentence looks like:
Indicate the correct sequence of the words that complete the empty spaces of the text.
Lo more important in there life is to know how to live with intensity and quality, always seeking un y horizon unite goal you reach.
5. (PUC-RS)
You don't know ___ how good ___ commerce in the season of promotions can be, with ___ difficult to be in the things, ___ ahorro is indispensable.
a) al - en el - lo - lo
b) el - del - la - el
c) lo - en lo - el - lo
d) el – de lo – lo – el
e) lo - del - lo - el
Correct alternative: e) lo – del – lo – el
From the articles made available as an answer to the first gap:
- Al: contraction (preposition The + masculine singular definite article he)
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the adjective good (good), so the correct option is the neutral article it.
From the options made available as an answer to the second gap:
- He: preposition in and masculine singular definite article el. Usage: in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- From: contraction (preposition in + masculine singular definite article he). Usage: in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- En lo: preposition in and neutral article it. Usage: in front of adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- From him: preposition in and neutral article it. Usage: in front of adjectives, adverbs and participles.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the singular masculine noun business, then the options en lo and of it, are automatically discarded.
The construction so good is usually accompanied by the preposition in to indicate a good thing; an advantage over something.
In the sentence, the idea is to talk about the good part of something, in this case, commerce.
From the articles made available as an answer to the third gap:
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
The word after the third blank to be filled is the adjective difficult, so the correct option is the neutral article it.
From the articles made available as an answer to the fourth gap:
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the singular masculine noun I dread, so the correct option is the singular masculine definite article he.
See how the complete sentence looks like:
you don't know it good del ctrade at the time of promotions pues, with it it's hard that you're doing things, he ahorro is indispensable.
6. (PUC)
Dicen that ___ habla ___ hombres is much more aggressive than ___ feminine language.
a) lo - de los - la
b) la - del - lo
c) el – de los – el
d) la - of - la
e) el - del - el
Correct alternative c) el – de los – el
From the articles made available as an answer to the first gap:
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the singular feminine noun habla (speech).
The word habla is a feminine noun that starts with there is-.
As a general rule, when faced with singular nouns in Spanish that begin with The- tonic or there is, use the article he, regardless of whether it is a masculine noun or not. (Ex.: he hambre > hunger).
So, the correct option to complete the first gap is he.
From the articles made available as an answer to the second gap:
- from them: preposition in and masculine plural definite article them. Usage: in front of plural masculine noun.
- From: contraction (preposition in + masculine singular definite article he). Usage: in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
- Of the: in Spanish, From is the written form of numeral 2.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the plural masculine noun men (men).
Taking into account that del is used in front of a singular masculine noun and From, in Spanish, is numeral two, the correct option to fill in the second column is from them, which in Portuguese means From.
From the articles made available as an answer to the third gap:
- There: definite article used in front of a singular feminine noun.
- Lo: used to emphasize or to refer to adjectives, adverbs and participles.
- he: definite article used in front of a singular masculine noun or a singular noun beginning with atonic or ha-.
The word after the first blank to be filled is the singular masculine noun language (language; tongue).
despite the word language, in Portuguese, to be a feminine noun, its equivalent in Spanish, language, is a masculine noun.
Thus, the correct option to fill the third gap is the article he.
See how the complete sentence looks like:
Dicen that he habla from them hombres are much more aggressive than he female language.
To improve your knowledge of the Spanish language, see also:
- False Cognates in Spanish (False Friends)
- Regular Verbs in Spanish
- Text Interpretation in Spanish with Feedback (High School)
- Spanish questions (Enem)
- Irregular Spanish Verbs
- Nouns in Spanish (Los Sustantivos)
- 10 Spanish expressions you need to know
Summary of articles in Spanish
Check the Summary All Matter with a graphic that will help you to easily internalize definite and indefinite articles in Spanish.
