Aprender estas fórmulas no es sencillo, pero en el fondo sé que puedo lograrlo.

to be

Breakdown of Aprender estas fórmulas no es sencillo, pero en el fondo sé que puedo lograrlo.

• yo: I
• en: in
• aprender: to learn
• que: that
• poder: to be able
• saber: to know
• lo: it
• pero: but
• lograr: to achieve
• no: not
• estas: these
• la fórmula: the formula
• sencillo: simple
• el fondo: the bottom

Questions & Answers about Aprender estas fórmulas no es sencillo, pero en el fondo sé que puedo lograrlo.

Why do we use estas with fórmulas instead of something like esos?

In Spanish, estas is the feminine plural form of este (this). Since fórmulas is a feminine plural noun, you need estas to match in gender and number. Esos would be the masculine plural form and wouldn’t match fórmulas, which is feminine.

What’s the difference between saying no es sencillo and no es fácil?

Both no es sencillo and no es fácil convey a similar idea of something not being easy. However, sencillo can sometimes imply simplicity in terms of process or concept, whereas fácil often focuses on the level of difficulty. In many contexts, they’re interchangeable, but sencillo can add a shade of “lack of complexity” rather than just “lack of difficulty.”

What does en el fondo mean here?

Literally, en el fondo means “in the background” or “deep down.” In this sentence, it suggests a strong inner conviction. It’s a common expression that means “deep down inside” or “at heart,” indicating that, although it might not be obvious on the surface, the speaker firmly believes something internally.

Why is sé used here instead of conozco?

Sé is the first-person singular present tense of saber, which refers to knowing information or a fact. In this sentence, the speaker is stating that they know (are certain) they can achieve something. Conocer is generally used for being acquainted with people or places, so sé (I know) is the correct verb for expressing certainty about one’s own capability.

Why do we say lograrlo instead of something like hacerlo?

Lograr emphasizes achieving or accomplishing something, highlighting effort and success. By using lograrlo, the speaker conveys the sense of reaching a goal or overcoming a challenge. Hacerlo simply means “to do it,” which doesn’t capture the nuance of achievement or success that lograrlo does.