II. ARTICLES
Reading edition
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 § 65c. 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.