Los niños juegan en el patio.

The children play in the yard.

Breakdown of Los niños juegan en el patio.

• en: in
• el patio: the yard
• jugar: to play
• el niño: the child

Questions & Answers about Los niños juegan en el patio.

Why does the sentence use the article Los before niños?

In Spanish, articles (el, la, los, las) are generally required before nouns to specify them more clearly. “Los” indicates that we’re talking about a plural, masculine (or mixed-gender) group of children.

Why is the verb juegan used here instead of other forms like juego or juegas?

“Juegan” is the third-person plural form of the verb “jugar” in the present tense. It matches the subject “los niños,” which is plural (they). “Juego” corresponds to “I play” (first-person singular), and “juegas” corresponds to “you play” (second-person singular).

What does en mean in this context, and why do we say en el patio instead of a different preposition?

“En” typically means “in” or “on” in Spanish. Here, it indicates that the children are located in the patio. “A” can mean “to,” but we’re not implying movement to the patio; we’re simply stating where the playing happens, so “en” is correct.

Why do we say el patio and not just patio without the article?

Spanish generally uses definite articles (el, la) more often than English uses “the.” “El patio” clarifies that we’re talking about that specific patio or the general patio space the children are playing in, rather than just the concept of a patio.

Is patio in Spanish exactly the same as “yard” or “patio” in English?

“Patio” in Spanish can refer to an open area or courtyard that might be inside or behind a house, school, or building. It’s somewhat like “yard,” “courtyard,” or “patio” in English, but the exact meaning can vary depending on regional differences.