Learn the basics of Spanish with this easy-to-understand course -Chapter 3

There are various rules to follow when making nouns into the plural.

1. Nouns which end in a vowel just add –s:

libro + s = libros (books)

casa + s = casas (houses)

debate + s = debates (debates)

2. Nouns which end in a consonant add –es:

pared + es = paredes (walls)

profesor + es = profesores (teachers)

3. Nouns which end in –ión drop the written accent and add –es:

conversación + es - ´ = conversaciones (conversations)

televisión + es - ´ = televisiones (televisions)

4. Nouns which end in –z change the z to c and add –es:

luz .......... luces (lights)

voz ......... voces (voices)

5. Nouns ending in –s and –x which do NOT have the spoken
emphasis placed on the last syllable keep the same singular and
plural:

lunes .......... Monday(s)

tórax ........... thorax(es)

6. However, nouns ending in –s which have the spoken emphasis
placed on the last syllable follow the general rule and add –es:

mes + es = meses (months)

interés + es = intereses (interests)

Definite Article – Part I
What is the definite article?
In English, the definite article is the word "the". The English
definite article is invariable. In other words, it is the same
regardless of whether the noun it introduces is masculine or feminine
(although we do not really differentiate between masculine and
feminine nouns in the English language), singular or plural.
On the other hand, the Spanish definite article is variable.
It is made to agree with the noun and therefore has four forms,
depending on whether the noun it introduces is:

masculine singular

feminine singular

masculine plural

feminine plural

The four forms of the Spanish definite article are as follows:

el is used for masculine singular nouns

la is used for feminine singular nouns

los is used for masculine plural nouns

las is used for feminine plural nouns

Examples of their use would be:

el niño ............... the boy

la niña ............... the girl

los niños ............ the boys

las niñas ........... the girls

Definite Article – Part II

we learnt that the definite article in Spanish is variable, and agrees
with the noun, depending on whether the latter is masculine,
feminine, singular or plural.
There are, however, exceptions to this rule ...
With feminine nouns beginning with –a or –ha which have the spoken
emphasis placed on the first syllable, the masculine definite article is used:

el agua ............... the water

el hambre ........... the hunger
This is - basically - because it sounds better.

Indefinite Article
What is the indefinite article?
The indefinite article is used when not referring to a specific thing.
The definite article is used when you are referring to a specific thing.
In English, the indefinite article can be:

a

an

some
Like the definite article, the indefinite article is variable and has four
forms.
These are:

un ............... the masculine singular form

una ............. the feminine singular form

unos ........... the masculine plural form

unas ............ the feminine plural form
Un and una can mean a, an or one.

Examples of the indefinite article in use are:

un niño .......... a boy/one boy

una niña ......... a girl/one girl

unos niños ...... some boys

unas niñas ...... some girls
Unos niños could, in fact, be referring to a mixed group of boys and girls.

This is because, with mixed groups, as long as there is at least one
male member, the masculine plural noun is used.