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Artículo indefinido
The aptly named indefinite article indicates an unspecific or unidentified noun.
Por ejemplo…
Veo a una gata y a un perro. | I see a cat and a dog. | |
Tiene una idea. | He has an idea. |
Characteristics of indefinite articles
- Used with countable nouns (as opposed to uncountable nouns like money and water)
- Placed directly in front of a noun or an adjective + noun
- Agree with the noun in number and sometimes gender
Spanish indefinite articles
Masculine | Feminine | |||
a, an, one | un | una | ||
some | unos | unas |
+ There are two singular articles, each of which can mean a, an, or one:
- Masculine: un
- Feminine: una
+ Likewise, there are two plural indefinite articles. Both are equivalent to "some":
- Masculine plural: unos
- Feminine plural: unas
Using indefinite articles
You can use indefinite articles in front of unnamed, unidentified, or unspecified nouns, as long as they are countable.
Por ejemplo…
Hay un problema. | There’s a problem. (What problem?) | |
Una turista resultó herida. | A tourist was wounded. (Who?) |
The indefinite article can also refer to just one of something:
Por ejemplo…
Hay un estudiante en la sala. | There is one student in the room. | |
Tengo solamente una hermana. | I only have one sister. |
The plural indefinite article means "some":
Por ejemplo…
Compré unas naranjas. | I bought some oranges. | |
Quiero unos libros. | I want some books. |
When referring to a person’s profession, the indefinite article is not used in Spanish, although it is used in English.
Por ejemplo…
Soy profesor. | I am a teacher. | |
Ana quiere ser médica. | Ana wants to be a doctor. |
Related lessons
Article Quizzes
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on Spanish articles with these fill-in-the-blanks exercises:
Note: You must be logged into your Progress with Lawless Spanish account to take these tests. If you don’t have one, sign up – it’s free!
Spanish lesson plans
- Definite and Indefinite Articles (Worksheet, 8th-9th grade)
- Indefinite Articles (Worksheet, 6th-7th grade)
- Pets and Indefinite Articles (Worksheet, 4th-5th grade)
- Sustantivos (PPT, 6th-12th grade)
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