El pare vol escriure una carta.

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Breakdown of El pare vol escriure una carta.

• voler: to want
• el pare: the father
• escriure: to write

Questions & Answers about El pare vol escriure una carta.

Why is it el pare and not just pare?

El is the masculine singular definite article, like the.

In Catalan, it is very common to use the article with family members when you are talking about them:

• el pare = the father / dad
• la mare = the mother / mom

But if you are speaking directly to your father, you usually do not use the article:

• Pare, vine aquí. = Dad, come here.

Does el pare mean only the father, or can it also mean my father / dad?

It can often mean my father / dad, depending on context.

Catalan often uses the definite article with close family members in places where English might prefer a possessive:

• El pare arriba tard. could mean Dad is arriving late.

If you want to be extra clear, you can say:

• el meu pare = my father

So el pare does not always sound as distant or formal as the father does in English.

Why is there no word for he in the sentence?