Definite
el / la / los / las
Spanish 101 · Grammar
Definite and indefinite articles
Articles signal specificity and count; they must match noun gender and number — including “agreement chains.”
The rule
Definite: el, la, los, las. Indefinite: un, una, unos, unas. Use definite when both sides know which one; indefinite for first mention or “any one.”
Feminine nouns that begin with stressed a- or ha- sometimes take el/un before the noun (el agua fría) but feminine agreement continues on adjectives: el agua está fría.
Omission patterns exist with professions, nationality, and some generalizations — follow your chapter rules.
Learn noun gender with the article: la universidad, el problema (masculine despite -a ending).
Tengo un examen y un proyecto la misma semana.I have an exam and a project the same week.
La clase es difícil, pero el profesor ayuda mucho.The class is hard, but the professor helps a lot.
Examples in context
Estudio español todos los días.I study Spanish every day.present habit
¿Puedes ayudarme con la tarea?Can you help me with the homework?request
Voy a la biblioteca después de clase.I go to the library after class.movement
No entiendo esta palabra.I do not understand this word.negation
Me gusta la música latina.I like Latin music.gustar
Tenemos clase mañana a las nueve.We have class tomorrow at nine.tener + noun
¿Dónde está el aula?Where is the classroom?estar — location
Es un examen difícil.It is a difficult exam.ser — description
Quick reference
Indefinite
un / una / unos / unas
Both agree
Gender + number of the noun they introduce.
Common mistakes
Wrong agreement
❌ Wrong: La problema es fácil.
✅ Correct: El problema es fácil.
Problema is masculine despite ending in -a.
Double subjects
❌ Wrong: Yo soy yo estudiante.
✅ Correct: Soy estudiante.
Drop redundant subject pronouns when the verb ending is clear.
Negation placement
❌ Wrong: Entiendo no.
✅ Correct: No entiendo.
Place no immediately before the conjugated verb.
Literal word order
❌ Wrong: ¿Qué hora es qué?
✅ Correct: ¿Qué hora es?
Keep standard question frames; do not copy English order.
Practice questions
Test what you just learned. Select an answer to see instant feedback.
_____ universidad es grande.
Necesito _____ bolígrafo.
_____ agua está fría.
_____ libros están en la mesa.
_____ libros son de la biblioteca.
You got 0/5 correct.
Want more practice on Definite and indefinite articles?
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Start practicing free →FAQ
When do I need a definite article before a noun?
Spanish uses el/la/los/las more often than English uses “the,” especially with abstract nouns, categories, and generic statements (Me gusta el café). Rules vary slightly by dialect. Follow your instructor’s examples for generic plurals and days of the week.
Por vs. para in one sentence—how do I decide?
Para often marks purpose with an infinitive, deadlines, recipients, and heading toward a goal. Por marks cause, exchange, duration, travel through a place, and many fixed phrases (gracias por). If you can swap in “in order to,” para + infinitive is a strong guess.
Saber or conocer for “to know”?
Saber covers facts, how-to with infinitives, and whether you know a piece of information. Conocer covers familiarity with people, places, and things you have met or experienced. No conozco a tu hermano versus No sé la respuesta.
How do comparisons with más and menos work?
Use más or menos + adjective/adverb/noun + que for inequality: más alto que. For equality with adjectives, tan + adjective + como. Quantity with nouns uses tanto/tanta/tantos/tantas + noun + como. Superlatives often use el/la + más + adjective + de + group.
Hay vs. está for “there is”?
Hay presents existence or availability: Hay un examen mañana. Estar locates something specific: El libro está en la mesa. If you are announcing that something exists without pinpointing placement, start with hay.