Breakdown of La tardanza del autobús causa problemas.
de
of
el autobús
the bus
el problema
the problem
causar
to cause
la tardanza
the delay
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Questions & Answers about La tardanza del autobús causa problemas.
What does the phrase del autobús mean in this sentence?
It means “of the bus.” It’s formed by contracting de (of) and el (the). This phrase specifies that the delay being discussed belongs to or is associated with the bus.
Why is the verb causa in the singular form instead of the plural?
Because the subject of the sentence is la tardanza del autobús, which is a singular noun phrase. The additional information del autobús is a modifier that describes la tardanza (the delay) and does not affect the verb agreement. Hence, the singular verb causa correctly matches the singular subject.
How is the contraction del formed, and why must it be used here?
In Spanish, whenever the preposition de is followed by the masculine definite article el, they combine to form del. It’s a mandatory contraction set by Spanish grammar. Therefore, instead of writing de el autobús, the correct form is del autobús.
What does tardanza mean and what role does it play in the sentence?
Tardanza means “lateness” or “delay.” In this sentence, it is the main subject (la tardanza) that performs the action given by the verb causa. It tells us that the bus’s delay leads to problems.
Can this sentence be rephrased using a synonym for causa, and will the meaning remain the same?
Yes, it can be rephrased. For example, you could say “La tardanza del autobús produce problemas” or “La tardanza del autobús origina problemas.” Both alternatives convey the same idea that the bus delay causes problems.