30 A SPANISH REFERENCE GRAMMAR

If the article is used, it lends emphasis or distinction. See 152. 139.

2.  Before a numeral denoting the order of succession of a ruler: Carlos V (quinto), Charles the Fifth. See 195. 140.

3. In many idiomatic expressions: esta en subjuntivo, it is in the subjunctive; por primera vez, por vez primera, for the first time. 141.

6. The definite article is frequently used instead of the demonstrative pronoun before de and que : el de la corbata azul, the one with the blue tie; los que Breen eso, those who believe that; lo de ayer, that affair of yesterday; lo que dicen, what (that which) they say. See 327. 142.

7. The neuter lo has idiomatic uses:

1. Before an adjective or past participle,

1 forming thus an abstract noun: lo agradable,

, whatever is pleasant; lo primero que hater, the first thing to do; lo malo, what is bad; borro lo escrito, I erase what is written. See 76, 179. 143.

2. Before a variable adjective, usually referring to a noun in a dependent clause: vi6 lo hermosa ,que era la nina, he saw how beautiful the girl was. This is the expression of how! in an indirect exclamation, the direct

THE INDEFINITE ARTICLE   31

form being que (cuL.n) hermosa era la nina! See 685, 686. 144.

B. INDEFINITE (indefinido o indeterminado).

t. f1 or an = uno, un, m. sing., una, f. sing., unos, m. p/. unas, f. pl. (some, a few). 145.

2. The plural is used to denote an indefinite number: unas veinte personas, some twenty persons. See 182. 146.

3. The masculine form usually precedes the singular noun beginning with stressed a or ha: un figuila vieja, an old eagle. 147.

4. Un, instead of uno, is the common form of the masculine singular. Uno is used as a pronoun: deseo uno, I wish one. See 164. 148.

5. It is used before tal, such a, by exception, when it then has the force of cierto : un tal Marti, a certain Marti. See 228, 231. 149.

6. The indefinite article is omitted:

1. Usually before an unmodified predicate noun denoting rank, occupation, or nationality: soy agente, I am an agent; se hizo comerciante, he became a merchant; ella es inglesa, she is an Englishwoman. 150.

2.  Before an unmodified noun object, especially when the sentence is interrogative or negative: j, tiene Vd. reloj? No tengo reloj. Have you a watch? I haven't a watch. 151.