Definite articles: "the"
Every noun is either masculine or feminine, singular or plural. Definite articles have to agree with the noun in gender and in number. So, if the noun is masculine you have to use a masculine article and if the noun is feminine you have to use a feminine article.
the masculine "the" is: el
the feminine "the" is: la
la tiza, la revista, la puerta
el reloj, el periódico, el pupitre Word endings that are usually feminine: ­ión, ­dad
la nación, la solución, la información
la actividad, la universidad
Exceptions to the rule:
el día
el mapa
el problema
la pared
chico
puerta
periódico
profesora
ventana
revista
escritorio
lección
página
mapa
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What if the noun is plural? (the girls, the boys, the pencils, etc.)
You have to use "the" in the plural form.
The masculine plural form: los
the pens... los bolígrafos
the newspapers... los periódicos
The feminine plural form: las
las ventanas
las profesoras
Indefinite articles: a/an
Just like definite articles (the), the indefinite articles must agree in gender and in number with the noun they modify.
Masculine "a": un*
Feminine "a": una
The plural form (meaning some): unas or unos
*If you want to say...
I have one backpack.
Tengo
mochila.
I have one pencil.
Tengo lápiz.
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a boy
some boys
a (female) teacher
some (females) teachers
a notebook
some notebooks
Using "hay"
There is/ There are
There are ten boys in the class.
How many girls are there?
How many desks are there in the class?
Is there a clock in the class?
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