Ese es EL ladrón, why not LAS? It hasn't taught me anything to help me with this distinction?

Question

Ese es ________ ladrón. The correct answer is el, I answered with las. When I click on "Discuss this lesson" it shows me examples of masculine and feminine the, as in las, los, el, la. Why should this be el, instead of los?

It is frustrating that this program isn't teaching me something before quizzing me on it, or helping me understand why it's wrong. Am I missing something, or is the program missing something? If it's me, what am I missing?

Answer

Hola Grace,Ese es ... ladrón translates as "That is .... thief," and ladrón is masculine for a thief [while ladrona is feminine] for a thief. Therefore you need a singular definite article in masculine gender giving "Ese es el ladrón."So the lesson is in fact about the use of the singular definite articles. Your suggestion of "Las" would be the plural of "La" which is feminine. You would require more than one female thief to use "Las." Saludos. John

Answer

Hola Grace

The lesson, as John said, is about using the articles el, la, los, las (the) depending on the gender of the noun. The noun "ladrón" is singular masculine, therefore you need "el" which is "the" for masculine singular nouns. If you go back to the test-question you will see that we offer a "hint" telling you which gender that specific noun is. Keep an eye on the hints, which are there to help you out, especially in the more basic levels.

I hope this helps.

Saludos

Inma