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

Q: Is there a printable Spanish Articles worksheet?

Yes — this page has a free printable Spanish Articles worksheet (PDF) with 30 exercises and an answer key with short explanations. It prints on both A4 and US Letter and is free for classroom use, no sign-up needed.

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.

Question 23

Son ___ tres de la tarde.

Accepted Answer

las. To tell time Spanish uses the feminine plural article las because horas (hours) is understood: son las tres. Only one o'clock is singular: es la una.

Question 24

___ lunes voy al gimnasio.

Accepted Answer

Los. Los lunes means on Mondays as a regular habit. El lunes would mean this coming Monday only.

Question 25

Vivimos en ___ área tranquila de la ciudad.

Accepted Answer

un. Área is feminine but begins with a stressed a-, so the singular takes un (and el): un área. The adjective stays feminine: tranquila.

Question 26

¿Me pones ___ otro café, por favor?

Accepted Answer

—. Before otro/otra Spanish never uses the indefinite article: otro café, not un otro café.

Question 27

Necesito ___ medio kilo de harina.

Accepted Answer

—. Spanish drops the indefinite article before medio, cien and mil: medio kilo, cien euros, mil personas.

Question 28

___ aguas del lago están muy tranquilas.

Accepted Answer

Las. The el trick applies only to the singular. In the plural the noun shows its true feminine gender: las aguas, las águilas.

Question 29

Which sentence has an article error?

Accepted Answer

Quiero un otro té.. Otro never takes the indefinite article: quiero otro té. Un otro is always wrong.

Question 30

Choose the correct article: Tengo mucha sed, ¿me das ___ vaso de agua?

Accepted Answer

un. Vaso is masculine and you're asking for any glass, not a specific one, so the indefinite un is correct: un vaso de agua.

Spanish Articles Practice

The rule, in plain English.

Download printable worksheet (PDF) — free, with answer key

Practice.

Other topics.

Noun Gender & Plurals Practice

Adjective Agreement Practice

Ser vs Estar Practice

Common questions.