Use of definite articles: el & la and los & las 16 July 2023
Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:
I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:
Example 1:
"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"
I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."
The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."
Example 2:
"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."
I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.
In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well.
So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?
Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.
Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Pati Ecuamiga
I've used "le" for men AND women (e.g. "Un gusto conocerle!", "Pásenle" etc.), but the article says it's only for men. This is Spanish spoken in a Mexican-American household, so I don't know how that affects things-- could be improper Spanish, but I thought I'd check because I hear it often.
What are the differences in usage/nuance between con lo cual vs. conque?
Does “pienso que no” = “no pienso” = “no lo pienso”? Thanks.
Hola Inma,
my answer was: no te olvides de que la mejor mezcla es ...
but the "de" was marked wrong and deleted.
According to the lesson, when using the reflexive form olvidarse, we need to use the preposition "de". Does this not apply when it comes to imperative?
Muchas gracias
Ελισάβετ
16 July 2023
Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:
I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:
Example 1:
"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"
I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."
The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."
Example 2:
"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."
I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.
In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well.
So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?
Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.
Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Pati Ecuamiga
hi,
there are thousands of taxis with which you can move around the city,
hay miles de taxis con los que puedes moverte por la ciudad,
can por la ciudad be replaced by en los alrededores de la ciudad?
Let me know = can we use hacer saber?
Hi,
The link to the above takes you to a page with the sub-heading 'Spanish Present Perfect'.
I thought 'preterite' was always related to the past as it says in the text on that page. So, why is it present perfect in Spanish?
Thanks.
Colin
Puedo decir "con tal de que aspiren a un buen futoro en vez de con tal de aspirar?
Kevin
Just took the weekly quiz on 'El futbolin' and got everything right just by using my instinct and what sounded right to my ear. And, though I had read and kwizzed this lesson before, it is a very different matter to use that knowledge without being able to scroll up and read the explanation as needed.
So, thank you for this lesson which explains clearly the difference between muy and mucho. Another review was very helpful.
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