Use of definite articles: el & la and los & las 16 July 2023
Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:
I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:
Example 1:
"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"
I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."
The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."
Example 2:
"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."
I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.
In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well.
So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?
Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.
Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Pati Ecuamiga
The hints giving in the mini quiz for this lesson are not very helpful. Correct me if I am wrong, but the verb that we need to conjugate is ir not the second verb in the infinitive. Therefore, the hint should read conjugate ir in el presente, correct?
Hi
I cannot see how this reading and listening exercise can help me practise que + El Presente de Subjuntivo to express a wish/commandAm I being dumb?
Julie
Hello, is Espero verle pronto usable in LATAM contexts? or is this only leismo from Spain? Why isn't it Espero verlo pronto
Seria genial que añadieran preguntas de comprensión lectora al final de cada lectura. A mis estudiantes les encantarían!
Forgive me. The lesson explains this very clearly, but I'm still having trouble wrapping my head around the idea that there is absolutely no difference in meaning at all between the use of el indicativo and el subjuntivo with quizá and tal vez. I had read elsewhere a lengthy discussion about how these two always triggered the subjunctive and a lo mejor always used the indicative. Most examples I've encountered seem to reflect this. I'm struggling to reconcile this seemingly conflicting information...
16 July 2023
Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:
I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:
Example 1:
"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"
I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."
The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."
Example 2:
"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."
I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."
As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.
In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well.
So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?
Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.
Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Pati Ecuamiga
I came across a sentence in a book I was reading and it said,
"ya no se sienten ganas de beber"
I understand "ganas" as a noun meaning that they are stating they do not have the "desire" to drink I think.
Why is sentirse used instead of sentir when "ganas" is the direct object?
Thank you
Hello, in last weeks B1 written weekend workout, this sentence was presented as the correct answer
"y dejé el resto de mis cosas guardadas en la taquilla"
I am trying to work out the verb and tense for "guardadas", but it has defeated me. I know it's somthing to do with "guardar" but the configuration isn't familiar to me.
Thanks
The sentence "Now I want to repeat it!" is translated as ¡Ahora quiero repetir!
Why doesn't Spanish need an object pronoun here?
Gracias
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