Spanish: An Essential Grammar

Definite article with numbers and numerical expressions

The definite article is used with numbered nouns and with certain expres-

sions of rate, weight, measure and quantity:

a los 60 años at 60 years of age

en la casa no 3 in house no. 3

el 60 por ciento de la 60 per cent of the population

población

dos veces al mes twice a month

mil dólares la consulta a thousand dollars per consultation

Note: With percentages the indefinite article is an alternative.

The definite article is omitted before the cardinal or ordinal number that

follows a title:

Alfonso XIII (i.e. trece) Alfonso the Thirteenth

The definite article with certain nouns

Unlike in English, the definite article is required in fixed combinations of

noun and preposition:

en la cama/el espacio in bed/space

ir a la escuela/a la iglesia/ to go to school/church/hospital

al hospital

The definite article with titles

The definite article is used with most titles unless the bearer of the title is

being spoken to directly:

Les presento al comandante y a la señora de Paredes.

May I introduce Commander and Mrs Paredes?

–Buenos días doctor Sánchez.

‘Hello Dr. Sánchez’.

Note: The article is not generally used with don, doña, fray‘brother’ (religious),

san(to), santa‘saint’, sor‘sister’ (religious): Pertenece a don Miguel‘It belongs to

don Miguel’.

3.2.1.9

3.2.1.8

3.2.1.7^1111

2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

1011

1

12111

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

20111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

30111

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

40

41111

3

Definite and
indefinite
articles

32