El exterior de la casa es bonito.

to be

Breakdown of El exterior de la casa es bonito.

• de: of
• la casa: the house
• bonito: pretty
• el exterior: the exterior

Questions & Answers about El exterior de la casa es bonito.

What does the word exterior mean in this sentence, and how is it used?

In this sentence, exterior functions as a noun meaning “the outside” or “the external part” of something—in this case, of the house. Although in English we might say “the outside,” Spanish uses exterior to refer to the external appearance or outer area.

Why is the phrase de la casa used instead of del casa?

The phrase de la casa means “of the house.” Because casa is a feminine noun, it takes the feminine article la. In Spanish, when you need to say “of the” with a masculine noun, you contract de + el to form del, but with a feminine noun like casa you simply use de la.

Which part of the sentence is the subject, and how does that affect the adjective bonito?

The entire phrase El exterior de la casa is the subject of the sentence. The adjective bonito is a predicate adjective that describes this subject. Since exterior is the head noun (and it is masculine singular), bonito is also in the masculine singular form, even though casa is feminine.

Why is the adjective bonito placed after the verb es rather than directly before exterior like some adjectives in English?

In Spanish, adjectives that follow a linking verb (forming a predicate) typically come after the verb. In this sentence, bonito is linked to the subject by the verb es (“is”), paralleling the English structure of “is pretty” or “is nice.” Although adjectives can sometimes come before a noun in Spanish, when they are part of the predicate they follow the verb.

Why is the verb es (from ser) used in this sentence and not está (from estar)?

The verb ser (here, es) is used to indicate inherent or defining qualities that are seen as permanent or characteristic. Describing the exterior of a house as bonito suggests it has an objectively pleasant appearance. In contrast, estar is used for temporary states or conditions, so es is the proper choice for this statement.

How would the meaning change if I said La casa es bonita instead of El exterior de la casa es bonito?

Saying La casa es bonita means “The house is pretty,” referring to the overall appearance of the entire house. By specifying El exterior de la casa es bonito, the sentence focuses solely on the outside or external appearance of the house, implying that only this part is being complimented rather than the house as a whole.