Puedes ganar el concurso más rápidamente que nadie si practicas todos los días.

You can win the contest faster than anyone if you practice every day.

Breakdown of Puedes ganar el concurso más rápidamente que nadie si practicas todos los días.

• tú: you
• el día: the day
• si: if
• poder: to be able
• practicar: to practice
• que: than
• ganar: to win
• el concurso: the contest
• más rápidamente: faster
• nadie: anyone

Questions & Answers about Puedes ganar el concurso más rápidamente que nadie si practicas todos los días.

What does “puedes” mean in this sentence and why is it conjugated the way it is?

“Puedes” is the second person singular (tú form) of the verb poder, meaning “you can.” It’s used here to indicate that the action (winning the contest) is possible for the person being addressed. This informal conjugation is common in Latin American Spanish when speaking directly to someone in a familiar tone.

How is the comparative phrase “más rápidamente que nadie” structured and what does it mean?

The comparative phrase is built by combining más (“more”), the adverb rápidamente (“quickly”), and que (“than”) followed by nadie (“no one”). Together, it expresses that you win the contest faster than anyone else. In Spanish, this is the standard way to form comparatives when comparing the manner or speed of an action.

Why is the verb “practicas” in the present tense rather than using an infinitive like “practicar” in the conditional clause?

In Spanish, conditional clauses that state a real or habitual condition typically use the present indicative. “Si practicas todos los días” translates to “if you practice every day,” implying that this is a regular activity. The conjugated form practicas directly corresponds to the informal “you” (tú), reinforcing the sentence’s direct address.

What role does “si” play in the sentence “si practicas todos los días”?

The word si means “if” and introduces the conditional clause. It sets the condition under which the main clause is true—that is, you can win the contest faster than anyone if you practice every day.

Can “más rápidamente” be replaced with “más rápido”? If so, what’s the difference?

Yes, many native speakers often say más rápido que nadie in casual conversation. While rápidamente is the precise adverbial form, using rápido as an adverb is common in informal speech. The choice depends mainly on the level of formality and stylistic preference, with both conveying the idea of “faster than anyone.”

How do the sentence structure and verb tenses work together to express a general truth in this sentence?

The sentence uses the present indicative in both the main clause (puedes ganar el concurso más rápidamente que nadie) and the conditional clause (si practicas todos los días). This combination is typical in Spanish for expressing general truths or habitual actions. It implies that whenever you practice every day, you have the ability to win the contest faster than anyone else.