Definite Articles

Definite articles (los artículos determinados) are used to accompany specific nouns. Let's learn how to use them!

How to Use Definite Articles

Rule 1. The main function of definite articles is to add specificity to the noun they accompany. They are also used with a noun that has already been mentioned before.

In this example we are specifying which store I prefer, so must use a definite article.

Here, the definite article is used because it is understood that the noun libros has already been mentioned before between the interlocutors.

Rule 2. It is also used with general facts or when speaking of something or someone in a general sense.

Rule 3. Finally, definite articles are is used fixedly with certain vocabulary such as:

The days of the week

Body parts

When telling the time

When saying percentages

Definite Articles - Form

Rule 4. Since articles go with nouns, they must agree in number and gender.

In this example, manzanas is a feminine and plural noun, therefore the article agrees with these characteristics.

In this example, the noun cuaderno is singular and masculine, therefore, the article should also be masculine and singular.

Note. It is very common to use the masculine singular determiner article el in front of feminine singular nouns that start with a stressed a or ha to avoid a phenomenon called cacophony (dissonance produced by the inharmonic combination of sounds in a phrase or word.).

More similar examples:

This rule is only limited to the definite article. This change does not occur with other words such as demonstratives (esto, esta, estos, estas).

Preposition + article

When accompanied by the prepositions a or de, the article el is contracted in the following form: