Chapter II: Articles

DEFINITE ARTICLE

(See Exercise V, page 125)

=14.= The definite article has gender and number to agree with its noun.

MASCULINE FEMININE ENGLISH

_Singular_ =o= =a= the _Plural_ =os= =as= the

The Spanish form of the definite article is used in two instances: =El-Rei=, _the King_, and =Eldorado=.

=15.= =Contractions.=--The articles combine with certain prepositions as follows:

_a._ =a=, _to_, combines with the different forms of the article making =ao=, =á=, =aos= and =ás=, _to the_.

_b._ =de=, _of_, combines with them forming =do=, =da=, =dos=, and =das=, _of the_.

_c._ =em=, _in_, combines with them to form =no=, =na=, =nos=, and =nas=, _in the_ (instead of =em o=, =em a=, etc.).

_d._ =per=, _by_, combines with them forming =pelo=, =pela=, =pelos=, and =pelas=, _by the_. =Polo= and =pola= are antiquated forms.

+Use of the Definite Article with Prepositions+

_Singular_ _Plural_
MASC. FEM. MASC. FEM.

=a= to =ao= =á= =aos= =ás= to the =de= of =do= =da= =dos= =das= of the =em= in =no= =na= =nos= =nas= in the =per= by =pelo= =pela= =pelos= =pelas= by the

=16.= =Syntax of the Definite Article.=--The definite article is used as a determinative: =o menino=, _the boy_; =o bom=, _the good_.

It is used before certain proper geographical names, especially those of rivers, mountains, seas, etc.: =a França=, _France_; =o Téjo=, _the Tagus_; =o Andes=, _the Andes_; =o Atlantico=, _the Atlantic_.

In Brazil this rule is not universally followed. The names of the states of Parahyba and Bahia are used with the feminine article, while the article is not generally used with the names of the states of Pernambuco, Alagôas, Sergipe, São Paulo, Santa Catherina, Minas Geraes, and Mato Grosso.

It is used familiarly before the names of persons: =onde está o João?= _where is John?_; =o Guimarães chegou=, _Guimarães has come_.

It is used before pronouns and possessive adjectives: =o meu chapeo=, _my hat_; =a tua vontade=, _thy will_. In this case the article may be omitted in familiar style. It is also omitted in speaking of one’s kin, as =meu pai=, _my father_, not =o meu pai=, unless emphasis is required, when it is used.

It is inserted before nouns used in a general sense where _in general, all, every_ may be understood: =o ouro é mais precioso que a prata=, _gold is more precious than silver_.

It is used to indicate time and season: =ás duas horas=, _at two o’clock_; =no inverno=, _in winter_.

It is used before nouns of weight and measure: =dois milreis o kilo=, =o metro=, _two milreis a kilo_, _a meter_.

It is used before the names of languages: =estudando o portuguez=, _studying Portuguese_; =entendo o francez=, _I understand French_.

It is used after verbs denoting possession: =estou com as mãos sujas=, _my hands are soiled_; =tem os olhos pretos=, _he_ (or _she_) _has black eyes_.

It is used after =todo= in both numbers: =todo o homem é mortal= or =todos os homens são mortaes=, _all men are mortal_.

It is used before certain titles: =O Senhor Costa=, =O Coronel Sampaio=.

It is omitted before the titles =Sua Majestade=, _His Majesty_; =Vossa Alteza=, _Your Highness_; =Vossa Senhoria=.

It is omitted before numerals used as titles: =Carlos quinto=, _Charles the fifth_.

It is omitted with appositional nouns: =é filho do Coronel=, _he is the son of the colonel_.

(For demonstrative pronouns having the same forms as the definite articles see § 65_c_. and § 87.)

INDEFINITE ARTICLE

(See Exercise VI, page 126)

=17.= The indefinite article has gender and number to agree with its noun.

MASCULINE FEMININE ENGLISH

_Singular_ =um= =uma= a, an[18] _Plural_ =uns= =umas= some

=18.= =Contractions.=--The indefinite article combines with =em= _in_ forming =num=, =numa=, =nuns=, and =numas= (in place of =em um=, etc.).

It also combines with =de=, _of_, forming =dum=, though this is generally written =d’um=.

The old form of the indefinite article was =hum=, =huma=, etc. The indefinite article has a negative form =nenhum=, _none_, which still retains the =h= that one often sees in the old forms.

_a._ =Syntax of the Indefinite Article.=--The indefinite article always precedes its noun or its substantive adjective, as =uma pessoa=, _a person_; =um desconhecido=, _an unknown person_.

_b._ The indefinite article is omitted:

1. Before predicative nouns denoting what a person is: =seu amigo é general=, _his friend is a general_; =elle assentou praça=, _he enlisted_.

2. After verbs of possession or denoting condition: =estou com fome=, _I am hungry_; =tenho bom apetite=, _I have a good appetite_.

3. After various indefinites, =outro=, =tal=, =certo=, =tanto=, =semelhante=, etc.: =tal dia=, =tal noite=, _such a day_, _such a night_; =foi sem dizer palavra=, _he went without saying a word_.

4. After an exclamatory =que=: =que bella noite=, _what a fine night_.

FOOTNOTES:

[18] The indefinite article =um=, =uma=, should not be confused with the cardinal number which has the same form in the singular (see page 50) but has no plural.