1.3: Nouns
- Page ID
- 173553
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Nouns
Nouns are words that describe people, places, animals, and things. In Spanish all nouns have gender and number. This means that all nouns in Spanish are considered feminine or masculine and are considered singular or plural. Not all nouns have gender in English so this can be a bit confusing, but with patience and practice it will become easier to understand.
Usually words that describe males are masculine.
el maestro = the teacher
el chico = the boy
el profesor = the professor, male
Usually words that describe females are feminine.
la maestra = the teacher
la chica = the girl
la profesora = the professor, female
Some words have masculine and feminine forms.
el abuelo = the grandfather
la abuela = the grandmother
el hermano = the brother
la hermana = the sister
el tío = the uncle
la tía = the aunt
Most nouns that end in -o, -s, -ma, -pa, and -ta are masculine.
el libro = the book
el autobús = the bus
el problema = the problem
el programa = the program
el mapa = the map
el planeta = the planet
Most nouns that end in -a, -ción, - sión, -dad, -tad, and -tud are feminine.
la palabra = the word
la lección = the lesson
la televisión = the television
la ciudad = the city
la dificultad = the difficulty
la solicitud = the application
Some words are exceptions to these rules and you have to memorize them.
el agua = the water
el día = the day
la mano = the hand
la radio = the radio
Some words are exceptions to these rules and the article determines the gender of the noun.
el/la atleta = the athlete
el/la artista = the artista
el/la astronauta = the astronaut
el/la dentista = the dentist
el/la estudiante = the student
el/la modelo = the model
el/la poeta = the poet
el/la turista = the tourist
Some words have shortened forms but are still considered feminine even though the shortened form ends in O.
la bicicleta => la bici
la fotografía => la foto
la motocicleta => la moto
Sometimes you just need to remember the gender of a new noun when you are learning it. For example, here are some words of items you might find in a classroom.
el bolígrafo = the pen
el celular = the cell phone
la computadora = the computer
la conversación = the conversation
el cuaderno = the folder
el diccionario = the dictionary
el escritorio = the desk
la lección = the lesson
el lápiz = the pencil
el libro = the book
la luz = the light
el marcador = the marker
la mesa = the table
la mochila = the backpack
la pantalla = the screen
la pared = the wall
el papel = the paper
el piso = the floor
la pizarra = the board
la puerta = the door
la silla = the chair
la tableta = the tablet
el techo = the roof
la ventana = the window
Making Nouns Plural
Nouns that end in a vowel form the plural by adding the letter S. The definite article EL changes to LOS and the definite article LA changes to LAS.
el chico, los chicos
la chica, las chicas
el libro, los libros
la silla, las sillas
Nouns that end in a consonant form the plural by adding the letters ES.
la ciudad, las ciudades
el celular, los celulares
el papel, los papeles
Nouns that end in the consonant Z change the Z to a C and add ES.
el lápiz, los lápices
la luz, las luces
If the last syllable of a noun has an accent, the accent is removed before making it plural.
el autobús, los autobuses
la lección, las lecciones
la televisión, las televisiones
Now, let us see what you have learned.
Practice.
A. Write the appropriate definite article in front of each noun.
1. _____ chica
2. _____ bici
3. _____ tío
4. _____ bolígrafo
5. _____ bolí
6. _____ hermana
7. _____ solicitud
8. _____ palabra
9. _____ problema
10. _____ escritorio
11. _____ mano
12. _____ foto
13. _____ mesa
14. _____ mapa
15. _____ lección
16. _____libro
17. _____ televisión
18. _____ profesora
19. _____ abuelo
20. _____ pared
21. _____ pisa
22. _____ ciudad
23. _____ planeta
24. _____ computadora
25. _____ práctica
26. _____ moto
27. _____ padre
28. _____ silla
29. _____ programa
30. _____ ventana
B. Change each noun and definite article to the plural form.
Ejemplo: el chico los chicos
1. la chica
2. el mapa
3. la computadora
4. el turista
5. el programa
6. la ventana
7. el planeta
8. la pared
9. la bici
10. la mano
11. el celular
12. la modelo
13. la hermana
14. el padre
15. la solicitud
16. la luz
17. el autobús
18. la lección
19. el papel
20. el profesor
C. Answer the following questions.
1. What is a noun?
2. Do all nouns have gender in English or Spanish?
3. How do you make nouns plural in Spanish? Give three examples.
4. Write a list of ten nouns in Spanish. Be sure to use the correct definite article in front of each noun.