Ellos preguntan si la biblioteca está abierta hoy.

to be

Breakdown of Ellos preguntan si la biblioteca está abierta hoy.

• hoy: today
• ellos: they
• abierto: open
• preguntar: to ask
• si: if
• la biblioteca: the library

Questions & Answers about Ellos preguntan si la biblioteca está abierta hoy.

Why does si have no accent mark here?

When si is spelled without an accent, it means if. In this sentence, it introduces the indirect question if the library is open, so no accent mark is needed. The accented form sí (with accent) is used for yes or to mean oneself in reflexive contexts.

Why do we use está instead of es in la biblioteca está abierta?

Estar is used to talk about states or conditions that can change, such as being open. Ser is generally used for permanent or inherent characteristics. Since being open is a temporary state, está abierta is correct.

Why do we say abierta (feminine) instead of abierto (masculine)?

In Spanish, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Biblioteca is a feminine noun, so the adjective must also be feminine: abierta.

Is there a difference between Ellos preguntan si... and Ellas preguntan si...?

Yes. Ellos typically refers to a group of all males or a mixed group of males and females. Ellas refers to an all-female group. The verb form would remain the same (preguntan), but you change the pronoun if you know the group’s gender.

Could we say Le preguntan a ella si la biblioteca está abierta?

Yes, if you want to specify whom they are asking. In Spanish, you can add a alguien (to someone) for clarity or emphasis. For example, Le preguntan a la recepcionista si la biblioteca está abierta (“They ask the receptionist if the library is open”).

Why is hoy placed at the end of the sentence?

Adverbs of time like hoy (today) can appear in various positions in a Spanish sentence, but it’s very common to place them at the end. It sounds natural and emphasizes when the action is relevant.