Most country names are used without definite articles (e.g. Bélgica (pron. BelHica): Belgium; Suiza: Switzerland; Francia: France; Inglaterra : England; Escocia : Scotland; Italia : Italy; Rusia : Russia; Holanda : Holland; Argelia : Algeria; Marruecos : Morocco; Europa : (pron. Éouropa) Europe; Norteamérica: North America; Sudamérica (or just América) : South America : América Latina: Latín América).

Certain exceptions, however, take a definite article (e. g., el Japon, la Argentina, El Perú, Los Estados Unidos (The United States), El Salvador, etc).

When a country name is qualified, however, it always takes the article: la Francia del siglo XVIII (dieciocho) : 18th Century France; la España de Carlos V (quinto) : Charles The fifth's Spain.

The present participle.- Corresponding exactly to the -ing form in English, the present continuous tense : estoy hablando : ¿I am speaking¿.

Form: - ar verbs : stem + -ando

-er and -ir verbs: stem + -iendo.

Examples: cantar / cantando; beber / bebiendo, vivir / viviendo.