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Articles 'la' and 'una' in disguise.

Both definite and indefinite articles agree in gender with the nouns they determine, and may generally be considered reliable gender markers. However, there is a well defined situation, singular feminine nouns starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha' in which el and un must be used instead of the expected feminine articles la and una. The nouns continue to keep their feminine agreement with other elements of the sentence.

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Grammatical Notes

Question #1 -

agua estaba muy para bañarse.

    El
    El
    La
    La
    frío
    fría
    frío
    fría

1 valid answer

Question #2 -

abeja estaba sobre la flor.

    Un
    Un
    Una
    Una
    laborioso
    laboriosa
    laborioso
    laboriosa

1 valid answer

Question #3 -

agua de la marea llegaba al muelle.

    El
    El
    La
    La
    agitado
    agitada
    agitado
    agitada

1 valid answer

Question #4 -

arma apareció en el jardín.

    Un
    Un
    Una
    Una
    asesino
    asesina
    asesino
    asesina

1 valid answer

Question #5 -

arma apareció en el jardín.

    Un
    Un
    Una
    Una
    asesino
    asesina
    asesino
    asesina

1 valid answer

Question #6 -

hambre que pasé no puede compararse con hambres que ellos sufrieron.

    El
    El
    La
    La
    los
    las
    los
    las

1 valid answer

Question #7 -

Para cortar el árbol necesito hacha como que tú tienes.

    un
    un
    una
    una
    el
    la
    el
    la

1 valid answer

Question #8 -

a y hache son la primera y séptima letras del alfabeto.

    El
    El
    La
    La
    el
    la
    el
    la

1 valid answer

Question #9 -

arabe era activa mujer de la comunidad.

    El
    El
    La
    La
    un
    una
    un
    una

1 valid answer

Question #10 -

habla como de mi tierra no hay en todo el mundo.

    Un
    Un
    Una
    Una
    el
    la
    el
    la

1 valid answer

Question #11 -

  • 0 valid answers
    • llohay/archive nfs bg,xattr,dev=458002d 1073649555 ellohay:/archive1 /hmt/elloha

    Top

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 1

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 1

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 2

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 2

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 2

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 2

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 3

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 3

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 3

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 3

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 4

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 4

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 5

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 5

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 5

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 5

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 6

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 6

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 6

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 6

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 7

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 7

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Back to question 8

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Back to question 8

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Back to question 8

    Correct!

    Proper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    The exceptions to the rules are:

    • Names of people.
    • Names of letters.
    • Nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Back to question 8

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 9

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Back to question 9

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 9

    Correct!

    Proper account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    The exceptions to the rules are:

    • Names of people.
    • Names of letters.
    • Nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 9

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 10

    Correct!

    Proper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    Hints?

    Proper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    Hints?

    Back to question 10

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Improper agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Try to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Hints?

    Back to question 10

    Not a valid choice.

    Improper use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    Try to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Hints?

    Back to question 10

    Grammatical notes for the drills in this page.

    Both definite and indefinite articles agree in gender with the nouns they determine, and may generally be considered reliable gender markers. However, there is a well defined situation, singular feminine nouns starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha' in which el and un must be used instead of the expected feminine articles la and una. The nouns continue to keep their feminine agreement with other elements of the sentence.

    The items covered are:

    1) The use of article with feminine noun starting with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.

    The rules are simple for the use of the articles el or una:

    • The noun should be feminine singular.
    • The noun should start with stressed 'a' or 'ha'.
    • The article should come immediately before noun.

    For example, note el arma but las armas for the first point; la abeja for the second; and el agua but la fresca agua for the third.

    Remember to . . .
    Check whether the noun is singular or plural, where the stress falls, or whether there is a word between article and noun.

    Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 2 Quest. 3 Quest. 4 Quest. 5 Quest. 6 Quest. 7 Quest. 10

    2) The agreement of other elements of sentence with the feminine noun.

    Notwithstanding the use of un or el, the noun retains all its feminine gender agreements with all other elements of the sentence.

    But notice the exceptional case of el arte and las artes. The first is trully masculine, the second feminine, as can be seen from el arte nuevo and las bellas artes.

    Remember to . . .
    Check that proper feminine concordance of other words is made, notwithstanding the use of el or un.

    Examples: Quest. 1 Quest. 2 Quest. 3 Quest. 4 Quest. 5 Quest. 7 Quest. 9 Quest. 10

    3) The account of exceptions to the rules for use of article 'un' or 'el' with feminine noun.

    The exceptions to the rules are:

    • Names of people.
    • Names of letters.
    • Nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Remember to . . .
    Check whether you are dealing with names of people, names of letters, or nouns relating to female persons or animals.

    Examples: Quest. 8 Quest. 9

    Main Menu

    Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.

    The text and the HTML formatting of these drills is covered by this copyright. One copy of this drill can be downloaded and/or printed for personal use. Unauthorized commercial use of these drills is forbidden, as well as reloading on servers or republishing under unauthorized URL addresses.

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