In English, the only definite (or definite) article is “the”, which translates as el / la / los / las. The number (singular or plural) is understood from the context.
For example:
- The house. / Home
- The roses. / The roses.
We must remember that in English there is no gender for objects and the definite article “the” does not have gender either. The definite article is used when we want to refer to a particular object.
However “the” is not used before:
- Own names . Although it is used to name families, not to name a person from that family.
- Incorrect: He is the Mr. Smith. He is the Robert Smith.
- : He is Mr. Smith. He is Robert Smith.
- Colors : Although in Spanish we say “I like yellow”, in English the article is not used.
- I like the yellow.
- Correct: I like yellow.
- General nouns . We must remember that in English the definite article is used to indicate a particular individual. For this reason, although in Spanish we say “bears scare me”, in English the article is not used.
- Incorrect: The bears scare me.
- Correct: Bears scare me.
The indefinite articles are “a” and “an” , which both translate as “a” or “an”. Their number is singular.
- “A” is used: when the next word begins with the sound of a consonant.
- “An” is used when the next word begins with the sound of a vowel.
An indefinite article is used to refer to any object of the same class, but not to a particular one.
Examples of definite and indefinite articles
- Defined: The door is open. (The door is open)
- Indefinite : It’s an open door. (It’s an open door.)
- Defined: Did he buy the computer he wanted? (Did you buy the computer you wanted?
- Undefined : Did I buy a computer? (Did you buy a computer?)
- Defined: I need all the apples. (I need all the apples.)
- Indefinite : I need a tomato and an apple. (I need a tomato and an apple.)
- Defined: I met Luke and Sarah, the young couple who live across the street. (I met Luke and Sara, the young couple across the street.)
- Indefinite : Luke is a young man and Sarah is a young woman. (Luke is a young man and Sara is a young woman.)
- Defined: When I grow up I want to be the best actress in the world. (When I grow up I want to be the best actress in the world.)
- Indefinite : When I grow up I want to be an actress. (When I grow up I want to be an actress.)
- Defined: He’s the man I talked to you about. (He’s the man I told you about.)
- Undefined : He’s an honest man. (He is an honest man.)
- Defined: You can’t talk like that to the teacher. (You can’t talk to the teacher like that.)
- Indefinite : You can’t talk like that to a woman. (You can’t talk to a woman like that.)
- Defined: The girl walks home. (The girl walks home.)
- Undefined : A girl walks home. (A girl walks home.)
- Defined: Are you looking for the blue pencil? I’ve got it. (Are you looking for the blue pencil? I have it.)
- Indefinite : I have a blue pencil. (I have a blue pencil.)
- Defined: I have spiled the glass of orange juice. (He spilled the glass of orange juice.)
- Indefinite : I have an glass of orange juice. (I have a glass of orange juice.)
- Indefinite : – I have a green apple and a red apple, which one do you want? (I have a green apple and a red apple, which one do you want?
- Defined: – I want the green apple. (I want the green apple.)
- Defined: I will be out for the day. (I’ll be out during the day.)
- Indefinite : I will be home in an hour. (I’ll be home in an hour.)
- Defined: I still have the umbrella I bought in Paris. (I still have the umbrella that I bought in Paris.)
- Indefinite : ulia has a blue umbrella. (Julia has a blue umbrella.)
- Defined: I will have the special hamburger, please. (I’ll bring the specialty burger, please.)
- Indefinite : I will have a hamburger for lunch. (I’m going to have a hamburger for lunch.)
- Defined: I almost broke the glass of water. (I almost broke the glass of water.)
- Indefinite : Can I have a glass of water, please? (Could you give me a glass of water, please?
- Defined: The famous water fountain is in this park. (The famous water fountain is in this park.)
- Undefined : There’s a water fountain in this park. (There is a water fountain in this park.)
- Defined: I want the perfect dress. (I want the perfect dress.)
- Indefinite : I just want an elegant dress. (I just want a fancy dress.)
- Defined: Where is the main street? (Where is the main street?)
- Undefined : Where can I find a hospital? (Where can I find a hospital?)
- Defined: Hurry up or you’ll miss the plane. (Hurry or you’ll miss the plane.)
- Indefinite : He knows how to fly an airplane. (Can fly an airplane.)
- Defined: The party was a success. (The party was a success.)
- Indefinite : Let’s have a party. (Let’s have a party.)
