Using the Definite Article in Spanish When English Doesnt

Using the Definite Article in Spanish When English Doesn't English has one definite article - the - but Spanish isnt so simple. Spanish has five definite articles, varying with number and gender: Singular masculine: elSingular feminine: laSingular neuter: loPlural  neuter or masculine: losPlural feminine: las A definite article is a function word that comes before a noun to indicate that a particular being or thing is being referred to. Although there are a few exceptions, as a general rule a definite article is used in Spanish whenever the is used in English. But Spanish also uses a definite article in many situations where English does not. Although the following list isnt exhaustive, and there are exceptions to some of these rules, here are the major instances where Spanish includes a definite article absent in English. Using Definite Articles to Refer to All Members of a Group When referring to objects or persons of a class in general, the definite article is needed. Los leones son felinos. (Lions are felines.)Los americanos quieren hacer dinero. (Americans want to make money.)Las madres son como rayos de sol. (Mothers are like sun rays.) Note that this use of the definite article can create ambiguity that isnt present in English. For example, depending on the context, Las fresas son rojas can mean either that strawberries in general are red or that some particular strawberries are red. Using Definite Articles With Nouns Representing Concepts In English, the article is often omitted with abstract nouns and nouns used in a general sense, ones that refer more to a concept than a tangible item. But it still is needed in Spanish. La ciencia es importante. (Science is important.)Creo en la justicia. (I believe in justice.)Estudio la literatura. (I study literature.)La primavera es bella. (Spring is beautiful.) Using Definite Articles With Personal Titles The definite article is used before most titles of a person being talked about. El presidente Trump vive en la Casa Blanca. (President Trump lives in the White House.)Voy a la oficina de la doctora Gonzlez. (Im going to the office of Dr. Gonzalez.)Mi vecina es la seà ±ora Jones. (My neighbor is Mrs. Jones.) The article is omitted, however, when directly addressing the person. Profesora Barrera,  ¿cà ³mo est usted? (Professor Barrera, how are you?) Using Definite Articles With Days of the Week Days of the week are always masculine. Except in constructions where the day of the week follows a form of ser (a verb for to be), as in Hoy es martes (Today is Tuesday), the article is needed. Vamos a la escuela los lunes. (We go to school on Mondays.)El tren sale el mià ©rcoles. (The train leaves on Wednesday.) Using Infinitives With Names of Languages The article generally is used before names of languages. But it can be omitted immediately following a verb that is used often with languages, such as hablar (to speak), or after the preposition en. El inglà ©s es la lengua de Belice. (English is the language of Belize.)El alemn es difà ­cil. (German is difficult.)Hablo bien el espaà ±ol. (I speak Spanish well. But: Hablo espaà ±ol for I speak Spanish.) Using Definite Articles With Some Place Names Although the definite article is seldom mandatory with place names, it is used with many of them. As can be seen in this list of country names, the use of the definite article can seem arbitrary. La Habana es bonita. (Havana is pretty.)La India tiene muchas lenguas. (India has many languages.)El Cairo es la capital de Egipto, conocida oficialmente como Al-Qhirah. (Cairo is the capital of Egypst, known officially as Al-Qhirah.) The definite article los is optional when referring to Estados Unidos (the United States). Using Definite Articles With Nouns Joined by Y In English, it usually isnt necessary to include the before each noun in a series. But Spanish often requires the definite article in a way that would seem repetitious in English. La madre y el padre estn felices. (The mother and father are happy.)Comprà © la silla y la mesa. (I bought the chair and table.) Key Takeaways English has single definite article, the. Spanish has five: el, la, lo, los, and las.Spanish requires the definite article in various situations where it isnt used in English.Masculine articles are used with days of the week, infinitives, and names of languages.