Articles

They accompany the noun and its function is to limit the extension of the noun.

For this we have two types of articles that can be definite or indefinite and must agree in gender and number with the nouns that they modify

Defined 

 They indicate a specific person, thing or place. The articles defined in Spanish are: el, la, los, y las. Which are translated into English (The) and are used with:

• Infinitives used as nouns especially at the beginning of the sentence. For example: “El estudiar es bueno”
• Nouns in a series. For example “Yo puse el libro, el lápiz, el cuaderno en la mesa”.
• Certain nouns such as “la escuela, la cárcel”; where the article is usually omitted in English
• Abstract concepts such as la bondad, la libertad
• Nouns of weights and measures such as “ Las peras cuestan 1$ la libra”
• Titles when used with a name. For example  “La Dra. García llamó”
• Days of the week to indicate when something happens. For example when in English you use “on” in Spanish you use: “Voy al cine el sábado”
• With body parts or articles of clothing; especially with reflective verbs for example: “Me pongo el abrigo” “Me tomó de la mano”
• With the name of certain cities such as El Ecuador, La América del Sur, La Florida
• Proper names modified by an adjective such as “El pequeño José”
• When we are saying the time. For example “Es la una” “Son las dos”

Indefinite 

• Indicate a non-specific place or thing the indefinite articles in Spanish are: un, una, unos, unas
• They are used in the same way they are used in English and usually come before the noun
• They are not used in certain situations such as after the verb to be when the noun followed by the verb to be unmodified For example I am a teacher Now we do use a modified noun we can say I am a good teacher

Neutral 

Also, do not forget that in Spanish we also use the neutral article “lo” to accompany adjectives, adverbs or participles.

The article never accompanies nouns.

Contraction 

a + el = al

de + el = del

For example: “Voy al cine” “Estas rueda es del carro”