Los sustantivos Nouns

Gender of nouns 1. Most nouns that end in –o are masculine while most nouns that end in –a are feminine. MasculineFeminine El perroLa gatita El gatoLa jirafa

Gender of nouns 2. Many nouns that refer to male beings end in –o or –or. The feminine counterparts are –a and –ora. MasculineFeminine El chicoLa chica El profesorLa profesora

Gender of nouns 3. Nouns that refer to people and end in –e or –ista are masculine and feminine. Gender can be specified by articles. MasculineFeminine El artistaLa artista El estudianteLa estudiante

Gender of nouns 4. Nouns ending in –ión, –dad, and –tad are usually feminine. La lección La comunidad La libertad

5. Nouns that end in –ma or –s are usually masculine. El clima El problema El programa El autobús El país

Gender of nouns 6. Nouns ending in –e (that do not refer to people) may be masculine or feminine. You will have to learn these on a case by case basis. MasculineFeminine El elefanteLa serpiente El arteLa clase

Gender of nouns Let’s practice. Which of these nouns are masculine? feminine? _____ zanahoria _____ abuelo _____ regla _____ falda _____ horario

Plural of nouns 1. If a noun ends in a vowel, add –s to form the plural. SingularPlural La jirafaLas jirafas El perroLos perros El elefanteLos elefantes

Plural of nouns 2. If a noun ends in a consonant, add – es to form the plural. SingularPlural La actividadLas actividades El autobús Los autobuses

Plural of nouns 3. If a noun ends in –z, change the –z to –c, then add –es. SingularPlural El lápizLos lápices

Plural of nouns 4. You use the masculine plural form of the noun to refer to a group that includes both males and females. 2 chicos+ 2 chicas= 4 chicos

Plural of nouns Let’s practice. Can you say these nouns in the plural form? Galleta Papel Muchacho Noche Nariz 2 pasajeros+ 4 pasajeras= ?

Definite articles There are four definite articles in Spanish. Use the definite articles to talk about specific nouns. Each of these articles means “the.”

Definite articles SingularPlural MasculineElLos FeminineLaLas

Definite articles Let’s practice. Write the definite articles next to the nouns. _______ pizarra _______ hermanos _______ t í o _______ camisetas _______ queso _______ abuela

Indefinite articles There are four indefinite articles in Spanish Use indefinite articles to refer to unspecified people or things. Un and una can mean “a” or “an. ” Unos and unas can mean “some” or “a few.”

Indefinite articles SingularPlural Masculine UnUnos FeminineUnaUnas

Indefinite articles Let’s practice. Write the indefinite articles next to the nouns. _______ carpeta _______ plátano _______ servilletas _______ platos _______ tíos _______ prima