Articles (en español)?

Question

When is it appropriate or necessary to place articles (el,la,los,las) before nouns? Sometimes I have trouble determining whether or not to place an article before the noun.

Answer 1

Hola Devin,

I see what you mean. The good news is that, in Spanish, you use the definite articles most of the time. For example, all the following sentences take definite articles:

Cars are expensive (los autos son caros)
Love parades are fun (Los 'Love Parades' son divertidos)
The car is black (el auto es *****)
The love parade in Berlin is the best (El 'Love Parade' de Berlín es el mejor)
He doesn't believe in love (él no cree en el amor)

Thus, as a rule, if you use 'the' in English, you should almost always use a definite article in Spanish. You should also use the definite article in these cases:
1. Days of the week: Days of the week typically are preceded by either el or los.
2.Seasons of the year: Seasons normally need the definite article, although it is optional after de, en or a form of ser. (no me gustan los días de otoño).
For 8 additional cases, click here: http://spanish.about.com/cs/grammar/a/use_def_art_2.htm

The key thing here is actually to know when no to use definite articles. Here:
1. In certain set phrases that do not follow any particular pattern. Examples: En largo plazo (in the long run), en alta mar (on the high seas).
2.Before ordinal numbers for names of rulers and similar people. Guillermo octavo (William the Eighth), Carlos quinto (Charles the Fifth).
3. With some proverbs like Perro que ladra no muerde. (The dog that barks doesn't bite.)
4. When used in nonrestrictive apposition...for this one, click on the link for a detailed explanation with several example:
http://spanish.about.com/cs/grammar/a/use_def_art.htm

One more thing, the answer before mine has some inaccuracies:

"After tener and llevar - Tengo carro, not tengo un carro."
You can actually say tengo un problema or llevo un gran peso encima. Or even tengo un carro viejo.

Click here for more on el,la,los,las...plus quizzes:
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/defart1.htm
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/defart2.htm

Answer 2

Add un, una, unos, unas, algun, alguna. algunas, algunos to the list - the indefinite articles. You use either a definite or indefinite article before all nouns in Spanish except:

With occupation, religion, affiliation - Soy professor, not Soy un professor.

Before otro - Compre otro libro, not Compre un otro libro.

After con or sin - sin dinero, not sin el dinero

After tener and llevar - Tengo carro, not tengo un carro.

That covers virtually all exceptions - the only other one I can think of is where English would call Carlos III Carlos the third, Spanish would be Carlos tercero.

Answer 3

I have the same problem.
Try; el abrigo not mi abrigo.La cabesa--not mi cabesa.When you refer to your clothes or bodyparts use the definite articles and not a posessive pronoun.On the contrary it is fine to say;mi casa y la casa,mi bicicleta y la bicicleta.Stick with it learning a language is a lifelong daily affair.

Answer 4

tricky point. try searching over search engines like google. just that can help!