ESSENTIAL ?: HOW DO YOU SAY “THE” AND “A/AN” IN SPANISH? Topic: Gender and articles

Definite articles ● In Spanish, there are 4 ways to say “the”. ○ Today we learn two of them ● A definite article is “the”. It indicates which thing you are talking about. A book is general, the book is specific – referring only to one. ● The two forms of “the” you need to know now are: ○ El ○ La

El and la ● “El” is the masculine article ● “La” is the feminine article ● In Spanish, nouns are either masculine or feminine ○ Masculine nouns: nouns referring to guys; nouns that end in ‘o’ (almost always) ○ Feminine nouns: nouns that refer to girls; words that end in “a” (almost always)

Pausa ● Tell your shoulder partner the 4 ways to say to say “the” in Spanish. ● Now your partner will tell you the 4 ways to say “the” in Spanish.

Indefinite articles ● An indefinite article is like a definite article, only it is not specific. In English, we have two – “a” and “an”. ● In Spanish, there are also two – “un” and “una”

Indefinite articles ● In English, the first sound of the next word determines which one we use. (a book, an egg). ● In Spanish, it is the gender that determines the one you use ○ “un” for a masculine noun El muchacho = the boy; un muchacho = a boy ○ “una” for a feminine noun La muchacha = the girl; una muchacha = a girl

Pausa ● Tell your face partner the difference between “un” and “una”.

With your group ● What did I learn?-person 1 ● What was most important? Person 2 ● How does it relate to things I already knew? Person 3 ● What was easiest? Person 4 ● What could be most challenging? Each take a turn answering

¡Practicar! Write and then share with your shoulder partner ● Go through the glossary (with the Spanish words). ○ Write down 10 masculine nouns and 10 feminine nouns with their articles (the) El amigo La amiga ○ Then write them again using indefinite articles (a, an) Un amigo Una amiga

Assignment ● Work on your birthday calendar ● Work on the worksheet for El martes