Spanish Nouns, Articles, and Adjectives

Cognate a word that sounds similar in English and Spanish Examples: Universidad interesante

False-Cognate word that looks like a cognate, but it is not. Examples: parientes embarazada

Spanish Nouns All Spanish nouns are either MASCULINE or FEMININE. Everything is either a male or female. There is no “it.”

“o” & “a” A noun ending in “o” will usually be male. A noun ending in “a” is usually feminine. However, there are exceptions. Example: la mano (hand)

Article The only real way to know for sure if a noun is a boy or girl is by it’s “article.” An article is the 2 or 3 letter word that comes before the noun.

Articles There are two types of articles: Definite Articles Indefinite Articles

4 Articles The 4 Definite Articles are: el la los las

4 articles Article meaning example el male singular (el amigo) los male plural (los amigos) la female singular (la amiga) las female plural (las amigas)

4 indefinite articles un una unos unas

4 indefinite articles un - means “a” (male, singular) una - means “a” (female singular) Examples: un gato = a cat una puerta = a door

4 Indefinite Articles unos - means “some” (male, plural) unas - means “some” (female, plural) Examples: unos gatos = some cats unas puertas = some doors

Difference between articles The definite articles (el, la, los, las) mean “the” when used with a noun. The indefinite articles (un, una, unos, unas) mean “a” or “some”when used with a noun. Example: el gato (the cat) un gato (a cat)

Adjectives Adjective - word that describes a noun Examples: pretty, ugly, tall, short, etc...

Spanish Adjectives Spanish adjectives always go after the noun. Examples: el amigo guapo la escuela grande

Adjectives In Spanish, the adjective must agree with the noun it describes.

3 categories There are 3 categories of adjectives: ends in “o” ends in “e” ends in a consonant

Adjective ending in “o” Adjectives ending in “o” will have four forms: El amigo bueno (male singular) La amiga buena (female singular) Los amigos buenos (male plural) Las amigas buenas (female plural)

Adjectives ending in “e” If an adjective ends in “e” it will only have 2 forms: singular & plural Examples: el curso interesante las clases interesantes

Adjectives ending in consonants If an adjective ends in a consonant, it will only be singular or plural. To make it plural, add “es” at the end. El curso dificil Las clases dificiles vowels consonants

Checking for Understanding

What is a cognate? a word that sounds similar in English and Spanish Examples: Universidad interesante

What is a false cognate? word that looks like a cognate, but it is not.

In Spanish, every noun is either a ___ or ___. Male or female

What is the only thing that can tell you for sure if a noun is a male or female? the article

How many categories of articles are there?

What are the 2 categories of articles? Definite Indefinite

What are the 4 definite articles? el la los las

What are the 4 categories of indefinite articles? un una unos unas

Do Spanish adjectives go before or after a noun? after

How many categories of adjectives are there?

What are the 3 adjective categories? ends in “o” ends in “e” ends in consonant

el fin