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 answered: yo no dije esa palabra. Why is that marked as incorrect
Question: ¡Estén atentos! means: Pay attention!
I don't see anywhere on the lesson that explains this usage. It seems like it's being used as a command/order.
Why is is teneis que hacer la compra and not tienes que hacer las compra?
Can you use the preposition "con" after the article instead to denote posession? For example:
-La mujer de allá es muy guapa.
-¿Qué mujer?
-La con la blusa roja.
Would that be correct? Thanks
In one of the questions you have this statement:
"but now he lives in Italy
HINT: but = pero, now = ahora, put "now" after "although" "but there is no "although" in the statement
For example: Nosotros nos reímos siempre con esa película. We always laugh at that movie. I would have never known to use "con." I would have chosen "a."
And, Ustedes se ríen de los niños. You laugh at the children. Again, I would have chosen "a" instead of "de." Why "con" in one sentence and "de" in another?
Will there be lessons on how to choose the correct preposition, or is it a matter of memorising the conjunction with the noun?
hi team,
May i clarify on some sentences?
Los paisajes están preciosos en esta estación del año.
I would think to use ´ser ´ as it is characteristic of the autumn season that we are talking about.
En esta época, voy a empezar un proyecto nuevo y voy a ser muy feliz.
For this sentence, i would think to use estar as i will or going to be happy, which sounds like a change in mood.
Hope to clarifies.
Thanks in advance.
How would you say, "They work as much as they play," meaning quantity of time they spend?
¿«Trabajan tanto como juegan.»?
But if you say, "They work as well as they play," meaning with the same quality of enjoyment, ¿would you say,
«Trabajan tan como juegan.»?
Why do some of the verbs get tildas?
se lo quiero comprar becomes comprárselo
and
se lo estamos decorando becomes estamos decorándoselo
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
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