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Les despeses són al contracte.

Les despeses són al contracte.
The expenses are in the contract.
From Lesson 31:Renting a flat and reviewing the contract·Hardcore Catalan

Breakdown of Les despeses són al contracte.

ser
to be
a
in
el contracte
the contract
les despeses
the expenses

Questions & Answers about Les despeses són al contracte.

Why is it les and not another word for the?

Because despeses is a feminine plural noun, and Catalan articles must agree with the noun.

The main definite articles are:

  • el = masculine singular
  • la = feminine singular
  • els = masculine plural
  • les = feminine plural

So:

  • les despeses = the expenses
What does despeses mean exactly, and what is the singular form?

Despeses means expenses or costs.

Its singular form is despesa, so:

  • la despesa = the expense
  • les despeses = the expenses

It is a feminine noun, which is why it uses la / les.

What verb form is són?

són is the 3rd person plural present form of ser, and here it means are.

It matches the subject les despeses, which is plural.

Compare:

  • La despesa és al contracte. = The expense is in the contract.
  • Les despeses són al contracte. = The expenses are in the contract.
Why is ser used here instead of estar?

This is a very common question because Catalan does not use ser and estar in exactly the same way as Spanish or English.

In Catalan, ser can be used in sentences that say where something is found, stated, or included, especially in more neutral or formal language. In this sentence, the idea is that the expenses are in the contract, meaning they are mentioned or included there.

In everyday speech, some speakers might also say Les despeses estan al contracte, depending on region and nuance, but són is grammatical here.

What does al mean, and why isn't it a el?

al is the contraction of a + el.

So:

  • el contracte = the contract
  • a + el contracte → al contracte

This contraction is standard Catalan.

A similar contraction is:

  • de + el → del

For example:

  • del contracte = of the contract / from the contract
Why does al contracte mean in the contract and not literally at the contract?

Because prepositions do not translate word for word between English and Catalan.

Catalan often uses a in places where English would use in, on, or at. So al contracte is best understood idiomatically here as in the contract.

You may also see en el contracte in other contexts or styles, but al contracte is perfectly understandable as in the contract.

How would I say the same thing in the singular?

You would say:

La despesa és al contracte.

Notice how everything changes to singular:

  • les → la
  • despeses → despesa
  • són → és

So the grammar changes to match the singular noun.

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