El contrato tiene una cláusula importante.

The contract has an important clause.

Breakdown of El contrato tiene una cláusula importante.

• tener: to have
• importante: important
• una: a
• el contrato: the contract
• la cláusula: the clause

Questions & Answers about El contrato tiene una cláusula importante.

Why is the indefinite article una used before cláusula instead of the definite article la?

The use of una indicates that the sentence is introducing "an important clause" without assuming the reader already knows which clause is meant. In Spanish, just as in English, when you mention something for the first time without specifying a previously known item, you use the indefinite article, so una cláusula importante means "an important clause" rather than "the important clause."

What is the role of tiene in this sentence, and why is it conjugated the way it is?

Tiene is the third person singular form of the verb tener (to have). It is used because the subject of the sentence, el contrato, is a third person singular noun. Thus, tiene means "has," indicating ownership or possession of something—in this case, an important clause within the contract.

Why is the adjective importante placed after cláusula in Spanish, and how does that compare to English word order?

In Spanish, adjectives that describe inherent qualities or are considered objective typically follow the noun. Therefore, cláusula importante directly mirrors the natural word order in Spanish, even though in English the adjective comes before the noun ("important clause"). This is simply a difference in syntax between Spanish and English.

What does cláusula mean in a legal context, and is its use similar to that in English?

Cláusula refers to a specific provision or section within a contract that outlines particular terms or conditions. This meaning is very similar to its usage in English legal terminology, where a "clause" is a distinct part of a legal document that carries important information or stipulations.

Is there any significance to the definite article el in el contrato?

Yes, el is the masculine definite article used to indicate a specific contract. Since contrato is a masculine noun, it takes the article el. This parallels the English use of "the" when referring to a specific or previously understood contract, emphasizing that the sentence speaks about a known entity.