Lección 1.2 Gender, Number (pluralization) and Articles
Gender
Spanish has two genders: Masculine and Feminine. It is important to note that grammatical gender in Spanish doesn’t necessarily align with natural gender; it is a structural part of the language rather than a reflection of the actual characteristics of the object.
When dealing with people, it can be easy to know whether to use the feminine or the masculine forms. However, when talking about objects or concepts, using the feminine and masculine forms is not as clear cut. Below are some rules that words follow but there are many exceptions to these rules. The best way to be sure whether a noun is masculine or feminine is to learn the definite article that accompanies it in the vocabulary.
| Masculine endings | Feminine endings |
|---|---|
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Please note that, as mentioned above, there are exceptions to the rule like nouns that end in ‘o’ that are feminine, like ‘la mano’ (hand) or nouns that end in ‘a’ but are masculine like ‘el día’ (day). This is why it is so important to learn the definite articles along with the vocabulary words that are memorized. Definite and indefinite articles will be presented below.
Number (Pluralization)-Singular or Plural
In Spanish, like in English, nouns and adjectives change to reflect number (singular or plural). Vocabulary is often presented in the singular; however, the nouns and adjectives can be pluralized. Below are the rules for pluralization in Spanish.
| Rule | Example |
|---|---|
| For nouns ending in a vowel (a, e, i, o, u) |
Add an -s
Ej. gato > gatos
Mesa > Mesas
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| For nouns ending in a consonant (except for ‘z’) |
Add an -es
Ej. trabajador > trabajadores
Television > televisiones
Flor > flores
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| For nouns ending in ‘z’ |
Change ‘z’ to ‘ces’
Ej. lápiz > lápices
Luz > luces
Pez > peces
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Definite and Indefinite Articles in Spanish
Articles are important in Spanish because they indicate the gender and number of a noun. Using definite articles indicates something specific while using indefinite articles indicates something more general. Understanding how to use these articles correctly is key to conveying whether you are speaking about something in specific or whether you are speaking about something generally. It is the difference between ‘The apple’ versus ‘An apple’.
Definite Articles
Definite articles are used to refer to something specific and mean ‘the’. Definite articles must agree with the noun that they modify in gender and number.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | El – the | Los – the |
| Feminine | La – the | Las – the |
Indefinite Articles
Indefinite articles are used to refer to nouns that are nonspecific and mean either ‘a’, ‘an’ or ‘some’. Indefinite articles must agree with the noun that they modify in gender and number.
| Gender | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine | Un – a / an | Unos – some |
| Feminine | Una – a / an | Unas – some |
Actividades
Actividad 1.2-1 – Fill in the blanks
Please put the definite article that corresponds to the word. Make sure that it agrees in gender and number
Fill-in-the-blank activity: choose the correct Spanish definite article by gender and number.
Actividad 1.2-2 – Fill in the blanks
Please provide the indefinite article that corresponds to the word. Make sure it agrees in gender and number
Fill-in-the-blank activity: choose the correct Spanish indefinite article by gender and number.
Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns are very important in Spanish and are similar to subject pronouns in English ‘I’, ‘you’, ‘he’, ‘she’, ‘we’ ‘you all’ and ‘they’. Since the Spanish language is based on conjugation, subject pronouns indicate who or what is performing the action in a sentence.
| Singular | Notes | Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo – I |
-Used to refer to the speaker.
-When using ‘yo’, you will be speaking about yourself.
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Nosotros – We |
-Used when referring to a mixed-gender group or group of males. ‘Nosotras’ is used when referring to a group of females.
-When using ‘nosotros’ or ‘nosotras’ you will be speaking about yourself and the people that are with you.
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| Tú – You (informal, familiar) |
-Used to address someone informally like friends, family and people of the same age.
-When using ‘tú’, you are speaking directly with the person.
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Vosotros/Vos – You all (informal, familiar) |
-Used when referring to a mix-gender group or group of males. ‘Vosotras’ is used when referring to a group of females.
-When using ‘vosotros’ or ‘vosotras’ you will be speaking to a group of people directly.
-Although the conjugation of ‘vosotros’ will be included in this textbook, ‘ustedes’ will be the only conjugation that you are responsible for on tests because it is more broadly used in Spanish-speaking communities.
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| Usted – You (formal) |
-Used to show respect or formality when addressing one person, often used in professional settings, with elders or strangers.
-When using ‘usted’, you are speaking directly to the person.
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Ustedes – You all (formal) |
-Used to refer to a mixed-gender group/or mixed-gendered objects or a male group or group of masculine objects.
-When using ‘ellos’, you will be talking about a group of mix-gendered or male people or objects.
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| Él – He |
-Used to refer to a male person or a masculine object.
-When using ‘él’, you will be talking about the person or thing that you are referring to.
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Ellos – They (masculine) |
-Used to refer to a mixed-gender group/or mixed-gendered objects or a male group or group of masculine objects.
-When using ‘ellos’, you will be talking about a group of mix-gendered or male people or objects.
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| Ella – She |
-Used to refer to a feminine person or feminine object.
-When using ‘ella’, you will be talking about the person or thing that you are referring to.
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Ellas – They (feminine) |
-Used to refer to a female group or a group of feminine objects.
-When using ‘ellas’ you will be talking about a group of females or feminine objects.
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Subject pronouns will be used in order to conjugate every verb in this course and in the courses to come. It is important that you memorize subject pronouns and how they are used in a sentence.
Conjugation of ‘Ser’ in the Present Indicative
The verb ‘ser’ means ‘to be’ and is one of the most important and commonly used verbs in Spanish. It is an irregular verb. It is used when talking about the essential characteristics and nature of person or thing.
Ser-To be
| Subject | Form | Subject | Form |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yo | Soy – I am | Nosotros | Somos – We are |
| Tú | Eres – You are | Vosotros | Sois – You all are |
| Usted | Es – You are | Ustedes | Son – You all are |
| Él | Es – He is | Ellos | Son – They are |
| Ella | Es – She is | Ellas | Son – They are |
Uses of ‘Ser’
Identity
To describe who or what something is.
- Yo soy estudiante (I am a student)
- Ella es mi hermana. (She is my sister)
- Es una mesa. (It is a table)
Professions
To describe what someone does for a living.
- Nosotros somos fontaneros. (We are plumbers)
- Ellos son científicos. (They are scientists)
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Origin and Nationality
- to indicate where someone or something is from or their nationality.
- Yo soy de California. (I am from California)
- Ella es de Arizona. (They are from Arizona)
- Nosotros somos de Nuevo Méxicanos. (We are New Mexicans)
Characteristics
To describe physical or personality traits that are considered inherent.
- Yo soy baja. (I am short)
- Nosotros somos amables. (We are kind)
- Él es inteligente. (He is intelligent)
Time and Dates
To indicate the time, date, and season.
- Son las cuatro. (It is four)
- Es sábado. ( It is Saturday)
- Es primavera. (It is Spring)
Relationships
To express relationships or associations.
- Yo soy tu padre. (I am your father)
- Nosotros somos amigos. (We are friends)
- Ellos son primos. (They are cousins)
Possession
To express what something belongs to.
- El coche es de Roberto. (The car is of Robert)
- Es la tienda de Ana. (It is the store of Ana)
- El reloj es de Jesús. (It is the watch of Jesus)
Composition
To express what something is made of.
- La mesa es de madera. (The table is of wood)
- El collar es de oro. (The necklace is of gold)
For now, the uses that will be focused on in this chapter will be Origin and Nationality and Time. In later chapters the other uses of ‘Ser’ will be explored.
Actividades
Actividad 1.2-3 – Match use case
Please drag the image to the correct use of ‘ser’.
Drag-and-drop activity: match images to the correct use of ser.
Actividad 1.2-4 – Multiple Choice.
Please pick the correct answer.
Multiple-choice activity on uses or forms of ser. Use arrow keys to move and space or enter to select.
Actividad 1.2-5 – Dialogue
Open-response dialogue activity using vocabulary and forms of ser.