Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): En esa misma tienda, el arreglo es gratuito si la falla no es muy grande. - In that same store, the repair is free if the flaw is not very big.

El arreglo refers to the repair service provided in the store. In this context, it means the process of fixing or mending an item that has a defect.

What does la falla mean in this sentence?

La falla means the defect or malfunction present in the item. It specifies the problem that might require a repair, and the sentence indicates that if this defect isn’t too severe, the repair won’t cost anything.

Why is the phrase en esa misma tienda used instead of simply en esa tienda?

The inclusion of misma emphasizes that it is exactly that particular store (often one mentioned earlier) where the repair service is offered. It reinforces that there is no change of location compared to a previously referenced store.

How is the conditional situation expressed in this sentence?

The conditional situation is introduced with si followed by la falla no es muy grande. In Spanish, using the present indicative after si is common for stating general conditions. Here, it means that the repair is free on the condition that the defect is not too severe.

Why do arreglo and falla use different definite articles (el versus la)?

In Spanish every noun has a gender. Arreglo is masculine and therefore takes the article el, while falla is feminine and takes la. This is a fundamental aspect of Spanish grammar that requires agreement between the noun and its accompanying article.

What does gratuito mean in this context, and how does it compare to gratis?

Gratuito means “free of charge.” It indicates that there is no cost for the repair provided the defect isn’t significant. Although both gratuito and gratis convey the idea of something being free, gratuito is often seen in more formal contexts, while gratis tends to be more colloquial.