Grammar · Nouns
Noun gender, and why it decides the words around it
Every noun is masculine or feminine, and the words next to it have to agree.
Nouns ending in o are usually masculine and take el and un. Nouns ending in a are usually feminine and take la and una. Adjectives and articles both change to match, which is why it is buenos días but buenas tardes.
Examples
el libro rojo
the red book
masculine throughout
la mesa roja
the red table
the adjective changes too
el agua fría
the cold water
feminine, but takes el to avoid two a sounds
el problema
the problem
one of a small group of a-ending masculine nouns from Greek
Watch out
Learning nouns without their article. Store la mesa, not mesa, and the gender arrives free.
Grammar sticks when you use it
The 90 day course introduces each of these in a sentence you would actually say, one short lesson at a time. Days 1 to 7 need no account.
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