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What is one of the hardest things for people to get used to when using Spanish?
That the nouns have a gender; they are either male/masculine or female/feminine.
In Spanish, gender is very important.
True
Definite and indefinite articles are determined by what?
The vowel at the end of the word (noun).
What must definite articles match?
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What are the definite articles in Spanish?
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What gender do 'el' and 'la' indicate in Spanish?
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What gender do 'los' and 'las' indicate in Spanish?
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What is important to remember when referring to a mixed-gender group in Spanish?
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What must you do to determine which definite article to use?
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What does rule one state for definite articles?
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What does rule two state for definite articles?
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What is the definite article to use for feminine nouns?
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What is the definite article to use for masculine nouns?
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What does rule three state for determining definite articles?
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What are some examples given for rule three of definite articles?
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What do indefinite articles indicate?
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What are the indefinite articles in Spanish?
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What gender do 'un' and 'una' indicate in Spanish?
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What gender do 'unos' and 'unas' indicate in Spanish?
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What must you do to determine which indefinite article to use?
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What does rule one state for indefinite articles?
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What does rule two state for indefinite articles?
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What is the indefinite article to use for feminine nouns?
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What is the indefinite article to use for masculine nouns?
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What rule applies for both definite and indefinite articles?
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What are some examples given for rule three of indefinite articles?
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What are exceptions to the rules for articles?
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What does rule one state for articles of both genders?
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Study Notes
Gender in Spanish Nouns
- Spanish nouns have a grammatical gender: masculine (male) or feminine (female).
- Gender affects adjectives, articles, and nouns in sentences.
Definite Articles
- Definite articles specify particular nouns and must agree with the noun's gender and number.
- The Spanish definite articles are: el (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), los (masculine plural), las (feminine plural).
Rules for Determining Definite Articles
- Rule one: Nouns ending in "a" are feminine (e.g., casa → la casa).
- Rule two: Nouns ending in "e," "i," "o," or "u" are masculine (e.g., gato → el gato).
- If a noun does not end in a vowel, find the first vowel by scanning backwards.
Indefinite Articles
- Indefinite articles indicate non-specified nouns and must also agree with the noun's gender and number.
- The Spanish indefinite articles are: un (masculine singular), una (feminine singular), unos (masculine plural), unas (feminine plural).
Rules for Determining Indefinite Articles
- Rule one: Nouns ending in "a" are feminine (e.g., casa → una casa).
- Rule two: Nouns ending in "e," "i," "o," or "u" are masculine (e.g., gato → un gato).
- The backward vowel identification rule for indefinite articles is the same as for definite articles.
Exceptions to the Rules
- Common exceptions may apply to both definite and indefinite articles.
- Rule one (both): Nouns ending in "ción," "dad," or "tad" are feminine (e.g., la canción, la ciudad, la amistad).
Additional Insights
- In mixed-gender groups, refer to the masculine form regardless of the number of males and females.
- Both definite and indefinite articles are used in a similar manner, emphasizing the importance of noun classification in Spanish grammar.
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Description
Test your understanding of gender rules in Spanish nouns and articles. This quiz covers the importance of gender in the Spanish language, including how it affects adjectives and articles. Sharpen your Spanish skills by diving into these essential concepts.