More about articles en español…
The word "the" occupies a unique place in the English language as the only word
that grammarians classify as a definite article. It's not quite so simple in Spanish,
where the English "the" has four equivalents. Like most adjectives, the definite
article in Spanish varies with number and gender:
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Singular masculine: el
Singular feminine: la
Plural masculine: los
Plural feminine: las
Although there are a few exceptions, as a general rule a definite article is used
in Spanish whenever "the" is used in English. But Spanish also uses a definite
article in many cases where English does not. Although the following list isn't
exhaustive, and there are exceptions to some of these rules, here are the major
instances where Spanish includes a definite article absent in English:
With abstract nouns and nouns used in a general sense: In English, the
article is often omitted with abstract nouns and nouns that refer more to a concept
than a tangible item. But it still is needed in Spanish. A few examples might help
clarify: La ciencia es importante. (Science is important.) Creo en la justicia. (I
believe in justice.) Estudio la literatura. (I study literature.) La primavera es
bella. (Spring is beautiful.)
With most titles of people: The definite article is used before most titles of a
person being talked about. El presidente Obama vive en la Casa Blanca. (President
Obama lives in the White House.) Voy a la oficina de la doctora González. (I'm
going to the office of Dr. Gonzalez.) Mi vecina es la señora Jones. (My neighbor is
Mrs. Jones.) The article is omitted, however, when directly addressing the
person. Profesora Barrera ¿cómo está usted? (Professor Barrera, how are you?)
Before days of the week: Days of the week are always masculine. Usually, the
days of the week use the corresponding article. Vamos a la escuela los lunes. (We
go to school on Mondays.) El tren sale el miércoles. (The train leaves on
Wednesday.) The exception is in constructions where the day of the week follows a
form of ser (a verb for "to be"), as in hoy es martes (today is Tuesday), the article
is not needed.
Often before names of languages: The article generally is used before names of
languages. But it can be omitted immediately following a verb that is used often
with languages, such as hablar (to speak), or after the preposition en. El inglés es
la lengua de Belice. (English is the language of Belize.) El alemán es
difícil. (German is difficult.) Hablo bien el español. (I speak Spanish well.)
But, hablo español. (I speak Spanish.) No puede escribir en francés. (He can't write
in French.)
With some place names: Although the definite article is seldom mandatory with
place names, it is often used with many of them. The list of place names using the
definite article is quite arbitrary and can be found here.i La Habana es
bonita. (Havana is pretty.) La India tiene muchas lenguas. (India has many
languages.)
With nouns joined by "and": In English, it often isn't necessary to include the
"the" before each noun in a series. But Spanish often requires it. La madre
y el padre están felices. (The mother and father are happy.) Compré la silla
y la mesa. (I bought the chair and table.)
Before verbs used as subjects: In Spanish, infinitives (the basic form of a verb)
can be used as nouns. The article el is used when one is used as the subject of a
sentence. El escribir es difícil. (Writing is difficult.) El esquiar es peligroso. (Skiing
is dangerous.) No me gusta el nadar. (I don't like swimming. In Spanish, this
sentence has an inverted word order that makes nadar the subject.)
Of course saying “No me gusta nadar” is the equivalent of “I don’t like to swim” so
in this case, “nadar” is an infinitive and is being used as a verb. Do not confuse
these two since putting an article can in effect; make the verb into a noun.
i
http://spanish.about.com/od/adjectives/a/countriees.htm
Thanks to the following website for information for this page:
http://spanish.about.com/od/adjectives/a/intro_def_art.htm