1. Spanish uses the indefinite article less frequently than English. Since
un / una also means one, the article is redundant for things normally encountered one at a time:
Tengo fiebre. ¿Tienes familia? |
I have a fever. Do you have a family? |
2. Spanish does not use the indefinite article before occupations,
religions, political affiliation or nationality; they are treated as adjectives:
Es inglés. Tu vecino es abogado. |
He is English, an Englishman. Your neighbor is a lawyer. |
—But when such words are qualified by an adjective, the article is used:
Es un abogado excelente.He's an excellent lawyer.
3. Never use un / una before the word otro/a:
otro ejemploanother example
4. Other common expressions not requiring the indefinite article in Spanish:
¡Qué día! Cierto encanto. Media vida. |
What a day! A certain charm. Half a lifetime. |