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El libro es costoso.

El libro es costoso.
The book is expensive.
FromLesson 13inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Breakdown of El libro es costoso.

ser
to be
el libro
the book
costoso
expensive

Questions & Answers about El libro es costoso.

What does costoso mean in this sentence?
Costoso means expensive or costly. In this context, it tells us that the book has a high price. Even though the meaning is clear from context, it's useful to understand that costoso is synonymous with expensive.
Why is the verb ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
Ser is used to describe inherent or permanent characteristics. Since being expensive is considered an intrinsic quality of the book, ser is appropriate here. Estar would be used for temporary conditions or states, which doesn’t apply in this case.
Is there any difference between using costoso and caro?
Both costoso and caro mean expensive. However, caro is more commonly used in everyday conversation in many Latin American regions, while costoso may sound a bit more formal or less frequent. Even so, both are correct and interchangeable in many contexts.
How is the sentence structured grammatically, and what are its main components?
The sentence follows the basic subject-verb-adjective order. El libro is the subject, es is the linking verb, and costoso is the predicate adjective describing the book. This pattern mirrors the English sentence “The book is expensive.”
Do adjectives need to agree with the nouns they modify in Spanish?
Yes, adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. In El libro es costoso, libro is a masculine singular noun and costoso is the corresponding masculine singular form of the adjective. This agreement is essential for correct Spanish grammar.
Can the adjective sometimes come before the noun, and if so, does that change the meaning?
Adjectives can sometimes be placed before the noun in Spanish, but the position might affect emphasis or nuance. In general, for descriptions with a linking verb (like in El libro es costoso), the adjective follows the verb to show that it is an inherent quality. If you placed the adjective directly before the noun (e.g., el costoso libro), it might add a slightly different tone or emphasis, but it still conveys that the book is expensive.
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“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

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