Question 1

Why is pregunto in the first person singular form?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, verbs change form depending on the subject. Pregunto is the first person singular (yo) present indicative form of preguntar. If you’re saying “I ask,” you use pregunto.

Question 2

Can I say le pregunto instead of pregunto?

Accepted Answer

Yes, you can say le pregunto to be more explicit that someone (him/her) is receiving the question. It can add clarity, but in many contexts, pregunto alone is still understood to mean “I ask (someone).”

Question 3

Why do we use si instead of que here?

Accepted Answer

Si in this sentence means “if” to introduce an indirect question (the content of what is being asked). Que would mean “that” and wouldn’t fit the meaning of asking “whether” or “if” someone understands.

Question 4

Why is comprende used instead of entiende?

Accepted Answer

Both verbs can work. Comprender and entender are often used interchangeably to mean “to understand.” Comprende might be slightly more formal or direct, but entiende would also be acceptable in everyday speech.

Question 5

Is the word order flexible? Could I say Pregunto si comprende mi hermano la lección?

Accepted Answer

Spanish word order is somewhat flexible, so you could say Pregunto si comprende mi hermano la lección, but it can sound less natural. The original sentence Pregunto si mi hermano comprende la lección follows a more standard and clear structure.

Pregunto si mi hermano comprende la lección.

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