Articles

Spanish Trap

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General non-count

Coffee helps many people wake up. · No article: coffee in general.

Identifiable non-count

The coffee in this cup is cold. · The phrase identifies which coffee.

General plural

Dogs need exercise. · No article: the category in general.

Identifiable plural

The dogs by the gate are quiet. · The scene identifies the group.

General abstract idea

Patience takes practice. · No article: the idea in general.

Identifiable instance

The patience she showed helped the team. · The clause identifies a particular instance.

General category: no article. Identifiable members: the.

Sin artículo en inglés

Slide 23

Tips

Spanish Trap

  1. No copies el/la/los/las automáticamente. Pregunta “¿categoría general o referente identificable?” El mismo sustantivo puede cambiar de cero artículo a the cuando cambia la referencia.
  2. The noun does not fix its article; reference does. Keep zero article to the bounded categories from slide 22.