La clase de español es breve hoy.

to be

Breakdown of La clase de español es breve hoy.

• hoy: today
• de: of
• español: Spanish
• la clase: the class
• breve: brief

Questions & Answers about La clase de español es breve hoy.

Why do we use "es" instead of "está" in this sentence?

Spanish generally uses ser (es) to describe the nature or essence of something. Even though the duration of the class being short might seem temporary, ser is commonly used for describing events’ characteristics (length, type, etc.). If you said está breve, it would sound odd and overly emphasize a temporary state, which isn’t typical in this context.

Why say "La clase de español" instead of "La clase española"?

In Spanish, "clase de español" literally means "Spanish class" (a class about Spanish). If you said "clase española," it would imply a class from Spain or something culturally Spanish. By using de, you specify the subject (Spanish language) rather than describing the class as having Spanish nationality.

What is the difference between "breve" and "corta"?

Both can mean short in the sense of duration or length. However, breve often suggests something that’s concise or doesn’t take much time, while corto/corta may be used more generally for short length (physical or temporal). In the context of classes or meetings, breve often has a slightly more formal or concise tone.

Could we place "hoy" at another part of the sentence?

Yes. Spanish word order is flexible. You might say:

• Hoy la clase de español es breve.
• La clase de español hoy es breve.

All are acceptable, though "La clase de español es breve hoy" naturally puts the emphasis on "brief today" when spoken.

Why is "clase" feminine?

Noun gender in Spanish often doesn’t follow a strict logical pattern. The word "clase" happens to be feminine, so it requires the feminine article "la". You simply have to memorize the gender with the noun: la clase, la leche, la noche, etc.