LEARN SPANISH INDEFINITE ARTICLES

Spanish Indefinite Articles are the words we use to define the nouns (generally). In Spanish we have four indefinite articles, we are talking about the words "un, una, unos, unas ". In Spanish the article will always precede the noun that it is determining.

Example

Un perro. (A dog) (article + noun)

Una casa blanca en una colina verde. (A white house on a green hill) (article + noun + adjective + preposition + article + noun + adjective)

Unlike English, in Spanish we distinguish between masculine and feminine, singular and plural forms in the articles, adjectives and nouns . So the Spanish articles "un, una, unos, unas" are the equivalent to the English articles "a" / "an". The four forms are:

You might be thinking that "A / AN" never goes with a noun in its plural form, and if so, you are a hundred percent correct. In that case we would use "SOME / ANY". So, when you see "UNOS, UNAS" in English you would translate them for "SOME / ANY". SOME

GENERAL USES

The main use of the indefinite articles is to refer to a person or object in a non-specific way.

Example

He visto un coche bonito hoy.

I have seen a beautiful car today

In this case it can be any type of car in the market.

The indefinite article is also used to introduce a person or an object for the first time in the conversation.

Example

Hemos comprado un ordenador nuevo.

We have bought a new computer

Sometimes the form "UN" is the "short" version of the number "uno" (one).

Example

Quiero un bote de lavavajillas.

I want a bottle of washing-up liquid

In this case "I want one bottle", not two or three. We also use the indefinite article when we are referring to a person whom we do not know.

Example

Ha llamado un tal señor González.

A Mr. González has phoned

SOME GENERAL OMISSIONS OF THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE

We can also omit the indefinite article when we are referring to nouns in a general sense.

Example

Todos queremos tener casa propia.

"We all want to own a house" or "we all want to be a home owner"

In this case "casa" refers to any building that can be called home.

We do not use the indefinite articles in many comparative expressions.

Example

Queremos mejor servicio.

We want a better service