when to use definite article

ElizabethA2Kwiziq community member

when to use definite article

This recommends "estudiando violin" but "tocar el violin."  I don't understand the rule for when to use the definite article.

Asked 3 years ago
InmaKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hola Erika

To simply say what your profession is we do not use the article: 

Soy violinista

Soy profesor

Soy medico

But when you add extra information, you need the article (or there is a tendency to use it):

Soy un violinista importante

Es un medico especialista en problemas cardiovasculares. 

Saludos

 

InmaKwiziq team member

Hola Elizabeth

When we talk about studying a subject we drop the article:

estudiar violín

estudiar inglés

estudiar historia

When we talk about playing an instrument we use the article:

quiero tocar la guitarra, tocar el violín, tocar la trompeta

Saludos

Inma

ErikaC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

It is written, "quiero ser un violinista importante". However, when describing profession we do not use the article: "Soy violinista."  Why is the article "un" used here, in "un violinista importante"? 

Thanks in advance!

when to use definite article

This recommends "estudiando violin" but "tocar el violin."  I don't understand the rule for when to use the definite article.

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