La mochila está hecha de un material resistente.

The backpack is made of a sturdy material.

Breakdown of La mochila está hecha de un material resistente.

• estar: to be
• de: of
• la mochila: the backpack
• un: a
• el material: the material
• resistente: sturdy
• hacer: to make

Questions & Answers about La mochila está hecha de un material resistente.

Why do we use está hecha instead of es hecha?

In Spanish, estar + past participle (like está hecha) is used to describe a resultant state or condition. Here, it indicates that the backpack has ended up in this “made from durable material” state. Using es hecha would be incorrect for describing that state. Ser + past participle is typically used in passive constructions (e.g., “Es fabricada en una fábrica.”) rather than describing the backpack’s current condition.

What does hecha mean, and how does it relate to hacer?

Hecha is the feminine singular past participle of the verb hacer (“to do” or “to make”). In this sentence, it acts like an adjective describing the “made” state of the backpack. Because mochila is feminine, the participle must also be feminine: hecha.

Why is it hecha (feminine) and not hecho (masculine) or hechas (plural)?

The past participle in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes. Since mochila is a feminine singular noun, the correct form is hecha. If it were a masculine noun like bolso, it would be hecho, and if it were plural (like mochilas), it would be hechas.

Why use un material resistente instead of un material fuerte?

Fuerte (“strong”) emphasizes raw strength. Resistente, on the other hand, focuses on the material's ability to endure wear and tear. If a material is resistente, it doesn’t just have strength—it withstands stress or damage effectively.

Could we use another preposition like con or en instead of de?

Not typically. In Spanish, hecha de is the standard way to say “made of” or “made from.” Using con or en would change the meaning or sound unnatural. For instance, con suggests “with,” implying an accompaniment rather than composition. En suggests “in” or “on,” which wouldn’t convey the correct idea of what the backpack is composed of.