Spanish Articles Practice

Q: What's the difference between el/la and un/una?

El, la, los, las (the) point to something specific or already known. Un, una, unos, unas (a / an / some) introduce something new or unspecified. Compare Quiero el libro (the specific book) with Quiero un libro (any book).

Q: When do a and de contract in Spanish?

A + el always becomes al (Voy al cine) and de + el always becomes del (Vengo del trabajo). These two contractions are obligatory. There's no contraction with la, los, las, or with the pronoun él (de él = of him stays separate).

Q: Why does Spanish use el agua if agua is feminine?

A feminine singular noun that begins with a stressed a- or ha- takes el to avoid two a-sounds: el agua, el águila, el hambre. The noun is still feminine, so adjectives agree as feminine (el agua fría) and the plural uses las (las aguas).

Q: When does Spanish use an article that English doesn't?

With general or abstract nouns (Me gusta el café = I like coffee), days of the week (El lunes = On Monday), titles (la señora García), and body parts or clothing (Me lavo las manos = I wash my hands).

Q: Do professions take an article after ser?

No. Soy profesor, Es médica — no article. You add un/una only when the profession is described: Es una profesora excelente.

Q: Are these article exercises free?

Yes. All 22 exercises run in your browser, need no signup, and include a clear explanation after every answer.

Question 1

___ profesor explica la lección.

Accepted Answer

El. Profesor is masculine and we mean a specific, known teacher, so the definite article el fits.

Question 2

___ mesa de la cocina es redonda.

Accepted Answer

La. Mesa is feminine singular, so the definite article is la.

Question 3

Quiero comprar ___ libro nuevo.

Accepted Answer

un. We're introducing a book for the first time, not a specific one, so the indefinite un is correct.

Question 4

Hay ___ silla libre en la mesa.

Accepted Answer

una. Silla is feminine singular and unspecified (a chair, any one), so una fits.

Question 5

___ niños juegan en el parque.

Accepted Answer

Los. Niños is masculine plural and specific, so the definite article los is used.

Question 6

___ flores están en el jarrón.

Accepted Answer

Las. Flores is feminine plural (la flor → las flores), so the definite article is las.

Question 7

Esta tarde vamos ___ cine.

Accepted Answer

al. A + el always contracts to al: vamos al cine. You can never write a el.

Question 8

Acabo de volver ___ supermercado.

Accepted Answer

del. De + el always contracts to del: del supermercado. You can never write de el.

Question 9

Es la casa ___ vecina.

Accepted Answer

de la. Contraction only happens with el. With la, los, las there is no contraction: de la vecina.

Question 10

___ agua del río está limpia.

Accepted Answer

El. Agua is feminine, but a singular noun starting with a stressed a- takes el: el agua. The adjective stays feminine (limpia).

Question 11

Mi hermana es ___ médica en un hospital grande.

Accepted Answer

—. After ser, professions take no article: es médica. You add one only with an adjective: es una médica excelente.

Question 12

Me encanta ___ chocolate.

Accepted Answer

el. Spanish uses the definite article with general or abstract nouns where English drops it: Me encanta el chocolate = I love chocolate.

Question 13

___ lunes tengo una cita con el dentista.

Accepted Answer

El. To say on Monday, Spanish uses el lunes (no preposition). Los lunes means on Mondays in general.

Question 14

___ señora García es nuestra profesora.

Accepted Answer

La. When talking about someone with a title, Spanish uses the article: la señora García. You drop it only when speaking directly to her (Buenos días, señora García).

Question 15

Antes de comer, me lavo ___ manos.

Accepted Answer

las. With body parts and clothing, Spanish uses the definite article, not a possessive: me lavo las manos (not mis manos).

Question 16

Compré ___ manzanas en el mercado.

Accepted Answer

unas. Manzanas is feminine plural; unas means some. Unos/unas express an unspecified quantity.

Question 17

Tengo ___ problema con el ordenador.

Accepted Answer

un. Problema is masculine despite ending in -a, so it takes un. Same logic for el problema with the definite article.

Question 18

Which sentence has an article error?

Accepted Answer

Vengo de el cine.. De + el must contract to del: vengo del cine. De el is never correct.

Question 19

Which sentence is wrong?

Accepted Answer

Ella es una abogada.. After ser, professions take no article: ella es abogada. You'd add una only with a describing adjective (es una abogada brillante).

Question 20

¿Dónde está ___ baño, por favor? (the one in this restaurant)

Accepted Answer

el. You're asking about a specific, known bathroom (the one here), so the definite article el is correct, not un.

Question 21

Vi ___ profesor en la cafetería.

Accepted Answer

al. The personal a plus el contracts to al: vi al profesor. The personal a is needed because profesor is a specific person.

Question 22

Which article correctly completes: ___ amigas de mi hermana?

Accepted Answer

las. Amigas is feminine plural, so the article must be las: las amigas.

Spanish Articles Practice

The rule, in plain English.

Practice.

Other topics.

Noun Gender & Plurals Practice

Adjective Agreement Practice

Ser vs Estar Practice

Also planned in this category.

Common questions.