Question

definite and indefinite articles (p. 60)

• el and la are the spanish definite articles. they mean the same as \the\ in english.
• you use el with masculine nouns: el libro. you use la with feminine nouns:

la carpeta.

• un and una are the spanish indefinite articles. they mean the same as \a\ and

\an\ in english.

• you use un with masculine nouns: un libro. you use una with feminine nouns:

una carpeta.
a. look at the ending of each noun in this group. decide if the noun is masculine or
feminine. write m next to the masculine words and f next to the feminine words. follow
the model.
modelo _f_ computadora

1. _ año 3. _ libro 5. _ carpeta
2. _ semana 4. _ hoja 6. _ profesor

b. now, look at the words from part a again and circle the definite article el for the
masculine words and the definite article la for the feminine words.

1. ( el / la ) año 3. ( el / la ) libro 5. ( el / la ) carpeta
2. ( el / la ) semana 4. ( el / la ) hoja 6. ( el / la ) profesor

c. look at the ending of each noun below. decide if the word is masculine or feminine.
write m next to the masculine words and f next to the feminine words.

1. _ cuaderno 3. _ revista 5. _ bicicleta
2. _ amigo 4. _ familia 6. _ cuento

d. now, look at the words from part c again and circle the indefinite article un for the
masculine words and the indefinite article una for the feminine words.

1. ( un / una ) cuaderno 3. ( un / una ) revista 5. ( un / una ) bicicleta
2. ( un / una ) amigo 4. ( un / una ) familia 6. ( un / una ) cuento

e. circle the correct definite or indefinite article to complete each sentence.

1. ( el / la ) estudiante es estudiosa. 5. ( el / la ) profesor es trabajador.
2. ( el / la ) profesora es buena. 6. ( un / una ) estudiante es artístico.
3. ( un / una ) amigo es simpático. 7. ( el / la ) amiga es inteligente.
4. ( un / una ) estudiante es atrevida. 8. ( un / una ) estudiante es reservada.

Explanation:

• For part A:
• "año" (year) is masculine (M) as it is a common masculine - ending noun.
• "semana" (week) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "libro" (book) is masculine (M) as it ends with "o".
• "hoja" (leaf) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "carpeta" (folder) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "profesor" (teacher - male) is masculine (M).
• For part B:
• Since "año" (M), circle "el".
• Since "semana" (F), circle "la".
• Since "libro" (M), circle "el".
• Since "hoja" (F), circle "la".
• Since "carpeta" (F), circle "la".
• Since "profesor" (M), circle "el".
• For part C:
• "cuaderno" (notebook) is masculine (M) as it ends with "o".
• "amigo" (friend - male) is masculine (M) as it ends with "o".
• "revista" (magazine) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "familia" (family) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "bicicleta" (bicycle) is feminine (F) as it ends with "a".
• "cuento" (story) is masculine (M) as it ends with "o".
• For part D:
• Since "cuaderno" (M), circle "un".
• Since "amigo" (M), circle "un".
• Since "revista" (F), circle "una".
• Since "familia" (F), circle "una".
• Since "bicicleta" (F), circle "una".
• Since "cuento" (M), circle "un".
• For part E:
• "estudiante" (student - female in this context as "estudiosa" is feminine) so circle "La".
• "profesora" (female teacher) so circle "La".
• "amigo" (male friend) so circle "Un".
• "estudiante" (female as "atrevida" is feminine) so circle "Una".
• "profesor" (male) so circle "El".
• "estudiante" (male as "artístico" is masculine) so circle "Un".
• "amiga" (female friend) so circle "La".
• "estudiante" (female as "reservada" is feminine) so circle "Una".

Answer:

• Part A:

1. \(M\) año
2. \(F\) semana
3. \(M\) libro
4. \(F\) hoja
5. \(F\) carpeta
6. \(M\) profesor

• Part B:

1. \((el)\) año
2. \((la)\) semana
3. \((el)\) libro
4. \((la)\) hoja
5. \((la)\) carpeta
6. \((el)\) profesor

• Part C:

1. \(M\) cuaderno
2. \(M\) amigo
3. \(F\) revista
4. \(F\) familia
5. \(F\) bicicleta
6. \(M\) cuento

• Part D:

1. \((un)\) cuaderno
2. \((un)\) amigo
3. \((una)\) revista
4. \((una)\) familia
5. \((una)\) bicicleta
6. \((un)\) cuento

• Part E:

1. \((La)\) estudiante es estudiosa.
2. \((La)\) profesora es buena.
3. \((Un)\) amigo es simpático.
4. \((Una)\) estudiante es atrevida.
5. \((El)\) profesor es trabajador.
6. \((Un)\) estudiante es artístico.
7. \((La)\) amiga es inteligente.
8. \((Una)\) estudiante es reservada.