Mi hermano gasta demasiado cuando compra dulces en ese negocio, y siempre le digo que ahorre.

My brother spends too much when he buys sweets at that business, and I always tell him to save.

Breakdown of Mi hermano gasta demasiado cuando compra dulces en ese negocio, y siempre le digo que ahorre.

• en: in
• mi: my
• el hermano: the brother
• y: and
• que: that
• comprar: to buy
• cuando: when
• el dulce: the sweet
• siempre: always
• ahorrar: to save
• le: him
• gastar: to spend
• ,: comma
• el negocio: the business
• demasiado: too much
• decir: to tell

Questions & Answers about Mi hermano gasta demasiado cuando compra dulces en ese negocio, y siempre le digo que ahorre.

What does “gasta demasiado” mean in this sentence?

“Gasta demasiado” means “spends too much.” The verb “gastar” translates as “to spend” (usually money), and “demasiado” means “too much” or “excessively.”

Why is the indirect object pronoun “le” used in “siempre le digo que ahorre” instead of “lo”?

In Spanish, when you tell someone something, you use the indirect object pronoun “le” to indicate to whom the action is directed. Even though “hermano” is masculine, the construction “decir” with a recipient requires “le” (as in “I tell him”) rather than “lo,” which would be used as a direct object pronoun.

Why is the subjunctive form “ahorre” used instead of the indicative “ahorra” after “digo que…”?

The clause “que ahorre” follows a verb of communication in a context that implies advice or a suggestion. Spanish grammar requires the subjunctive mood in subordinate clauses that express recommendations, wishes, or commands. Hence, “ahorre” is used to express the speaker’s recommendation for saving money.

What does the phrase “cuando compra dulces en ese negocio” tell us about the action?

This phrase specifies the condition or situation in which the spending occurs. It means “when he buys sweets at that shop/business,” indicating that the excessive spending happens specifically during those purchases.

How should we understand the term “negocio” in this context? Does it always mean “business”?

In this sentence, “negocio” refers to a specific place where sweets are sold—essentially a shop or store. While “negocio” can mean “business” in a broader sense, here it clearly points to the establishment or shop that sells dulces.

How are the two parts of the sentence connected and what is their overall meaning?

The sentence first states that the speaker’s brother spends too much money when he buys sweets at a particular shop. It then connects this observation with “y” (meaning “and”) to add that the speaker always advises him to save money. The two parts are linked to show both a problematic habit and the speaker’s reaction to it.