El recargo aumenta el cargo total.

The surcharge increases the total charge.

Breakdown of El recargo aumenta el cargo total.

• aumentar: to increase
• total: total
• el cargo: the charge (billing item)
• el recargo: the surcharge

Questions & Answers about El recargo aumenta el cargo total.

Why are both recargo and cargo preceded by el?

Because both are masculine singular nouns.

• el recargo = the surcharge / the extra fee
• el cargo = the charge / fee
• total describes cargo, so el cargo total = the total charge

In Spanish, nouns usually need an article when you are talking about a specific thing in a general statement like this.

What is the difference between recargo and cargo? They look very similar.

They are related, but they are not the same.

• cargo = a charge, fee, or amount billed
• recargo = an extra charge added on top of that, often a surcharge or markup

A helpful way to think about re- here is that it suggests something added back/on top. So:

• cargo total = the total charge
• recargo = the extra amount that increases it

Why is the verb aumenta and not aumentan?