Mi familia y yo vamos al parque el fin de semana.

My family and I go to the park on the weekend.

Breakdown of Mi familia y yo vamos al parque el fin de semana.

• yo: I
• mi: my
• la familia: the family
• y: and
• el parque: the park
• a: to
• ir: to go
• el fin de semana: the weekend

Questions & Answers about Mi familia y yo vamos al parque el fin de semana.

Why is the subject written as "mi familia y yo" instead of "yo y mi familia"?

In Spanish, it is customary to mention other people before oneself as a sign of courtesy. Although both orders are grammatically correct, placing mi familia before yo reflects a modest and polite way of expressing the idea.

What does the verb "vamos" indicate about the subject and the tense being used?

"Vamos" is the first-person plural form of the verb "ir" (to go), which aligns with the subject "mi familia y yo" (we). It is presented in the present tense; however, with a time expression like "el fin de semana", it also indicates a future plan or scheduled action.

What is the role of the contraction "al" in the phrase "al parque"?

"Al" is a contraction of the preposition "a" (to) and the masculine singular definite article "el" (the). When combined, they form "al", meaning "to the" as used in "al parque" (to the park).

What does "el fin de semana" mean, and how does it function in this sentence?

"El fin de semana" translates to "the weekend". In this sentence, it serves as a time expression that tells us when the action of going to the park will take place.

Why is the present tense used in a sentence that refers to a future event?

In Spanish, the present tense can be used to express future plans or scheduled events, especially when accompanied by a time marker such as "el fin de semana". This construction implies that the action is arranged to happen in the near future.

Could the sentence be modified to use a different time expression, such as "este fin de semana", and what would that change imply?

Yes, you could say "Mi familia y yo vamos al parque este fin de semana." Using "este fin de semana" (this weekend) makes the reference to the upcoming weekend more specific, whereas "el fin de semana" can be taken either in a specific context or as a habitual event depending on the situation.