In this lesson, we will talk about the difference between "él" and "ella."

These two words are very important in Spanish. They mean "he" and "she."

Knowing when to use each word helps everyone understand who you’re talking about.

1. Understanding the Pronouns

• Él: We use "él" when we are talking about a boy or a man.

  • For example, if you want to say "He is my friend," you would say, "Él es mi amigo."

• Ella: We use "ella" when we talk about a girl or a woman.

  • For example, if you want to say "She is my friend," you would say, "Ella es mi amiga."

2. Basic Rules for Usage

• Gender Agreement: In Spanish, words can be for boys (masculine) or for girls (feminine).

  • We use "él" only for boys and "ella" only for girls.
  • It’s important to know if the person you are talking about is a boy or a girl so you can use the right word.

  Examples:

  • If you are talking about Carlos (a boy): Él juega al fútbol. (He plays soccer.)
  • If you are talking about Maria (a girl): Ella juega al fútbol. (She plays soccer.)

• Context Matters: Sometimes, you might have already said the person's name. When that happens, you can use "él" or "ella" instead of saying the name again.

  Examples:

  • Carlos es mi hermano. Él es muy simpático. (Carlos is my brother. He is very nice.)
  • Maria es mi hermana. Ella es muy inteligente. (Maria is my sister. She is very smart.)

3. Practicing with Examples

To get better at using “él” and “ella,” practice by figuring out if the person in the sentences is male or female. Here are some examples for you to try:

• Juan es un estudiante. (Use él.)
  • Complete: Él es un estudiante. (He is a student.)
• Sofia es una profesora. (Use ella.)
  • Complete: Ella es una profesora. (She is a teacher.)

4. Questions to Test Understanding

Asking questions is a great way to practice using "él" and "ella."

1. ¿Quién es tu mejor amigo?
   • Sample answer: Él es Jorge. (He is Jorge.)
2. ¿Quién es tu mejor amiga?
   • Sample answer: Ella es Ana. (She is Ana.)

5. Learning Other Pronouns

Let’s see how “él” and “ella” fit in with other Spanish pronouns:

• Yo (I),
• Tú (You),
• Él (He),
• Ella (She),
• Nosotros (We - for boys or mixed groups),
• Nosotras (We - for girls),
• Ustedes (You all).

By knowing these words, it becomes easier to tell if you are talking about boys or girls.

6. Summary: Key Points

• Él is for boys, and Ella is for girls.
• Use the right word based on who you’re talking about.
• Context is important: make sure it’s clear who you mean when you use these words.

7. Practice Exercise

Now it’s your turn! Fill in the blanks with "él" or "ella":

1. Maria está en la clase. ___ es muy inteligente.
2. Diego es mi hermano. ___ juega al baloncesto.

Answers:

1. Ella
2. Él

Using "él" and "ella" correctly will make you feel more confident when you speak Spanish.

Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be great at using these important words!