Capítulo 2 - En mi colegio

This month of October we will try to complete all of Lesson A and part of Lesson B, from this Chapter (Capítulo 2). I asked you on Friday (10/11/13) to write all the new vocabulary from Vocabulario II (Lección A) in your notebooks with their respective definite and indefinite articles. It is essential that you memorize these new words with their respective articles, and that you learn to change them to their plural forms too. Please remember the rules for adding the definite and indefinite articles to nouns, and the rules on how to change to their plural forms.

Usually nouns that end in "o," are masculine; and nouns that end in "a," are feminine. But as you learned, there are some exceptions: la mano (not "el mano"), el mapa (not "la mapa") and "el día" (not "la día"). Also, el problema (not "la problema"), el tema (not "la tema"). If a noun is masculine and singular you add the definite article "el." If a noun is feminine and singular you add the definite article "la." If a noun is masculine and plural the definite article is "los." If a noun is feminine and plural the definite article is "las." Check below to review both definite and indefinite articles.

Remember that nouns are words that name a person, place, thing or idea. They can refer to "living things," or "non-living things." In Spanish all nouns have gender, they can be masculine or feminine. Most nouns that refer to males are usually masculine, and most nouns that refer to females are usually feminine. Examples of masculine nouns are: el hombre, el chico, el muchacho, el conductor, el profesor, el escritor, el turista. Examples of feminine nouns are: la mujer, la chica, la muchacha, la profesora, la escritora, la turista. 

Most masculine nouns (for "living things") end in "o," "or," "ista." Most feminine nouns (for "living things") end in "a," "ora," "ista." Some nouns (like "turista" and "artista") have identical endings in masculine and feminine forms. So, in those cases, gender is indicated by the article. Other examples are "joven" and "estudiante." 

Examples of masculine nouns that refer to "non-living things" are: el cuaderno, el bolígrafo, el problema, el autobús. Examples of feminine nouns that refer to "non-living things" are: la palabra, la conversación, la profesión, la lección, la nacionalidad, la vecindad. Common endings for masculine nouns ("non-living things") are "o," "ma," and "s." And for feminine nouns ("non-living things") are "a," "ción," "sión," and "dad." As seen above, there are exceptions to these rules. This is why you SHOULD memorize each noun with its article (el or la). 

Once you know that the definite article of a noun is "el," you will know that the indefinite article is "un." Example: "el libro" - "un libro." The plural form is "los libros - unos libros." Practice this with all the new vocabulary words from this chapter. Spanish nouns that end in a vowel, form the plural by adding "s." Other examples: "el diccionario" - "los diccionarios," "la fotografía - "las fotografías." 

For nouns that end in a consonant, add "es" to form the plural. Examples: "la comunidad - las comunidades," "el profesor - los profesores," "la conversación - las conversaciones." Notice that for the word "conversaciones" the accent was dropped, because the emphasis is not placed on the "o" anymore. Nouns that end with a "z" change the "z" to "ces." Examples: "el lápiz - los lápices," "la cruz - las cruces," and "la luz - las luces."

Also remember that if you have a group of males and females, you will refer to them as "los chicos," or "los muchachos." In Spanish, the masculine plural form is used to refer to a group that includes males and females.

You will have a TEST on Singular and Plural Nouns (from "Capítulo 2 - En mi colegio") and its Definite and Indefinite Articles on Thursday, October 24, 2013. Study Capítulo 2, Lección A, Vocabulario II. You must know the vocabulary from pages 48 and 49; and also know how to spell these words properly. Please check Edmodo, I have more detailed information there. I also added a very good PowerPoint on Nouns and Definite and Indefinite Articles. If you have any questions, feel free to ask Señora Feld.