Mi hermano alquiló un bote para pescar, pero un pez enorme lo asustó.

My brother rented a boat to go fishing, but a huge fish scared him.

Breakdown of Mi hermano alquiló un bote para pescar, pero un pez enorme lo asustó.

• mi: my
• el hermano: the brother
• para: to
• pero: but

Questions & Answers about Mi hermano alquiló un bote para pescar, pero un pez enorme lo asustó.

What does the verb alquiló mean, and why is it in the preterite tense?

Alquiló comes from the verb alquilar, which means “to rent” or “to lease.” It is in the preterite tense because it describes a completed action in the past—my brother rented a boat.

What does bote mean in this sentence, and is it exactly the same as the English “boat”?

In this context, bote means “boat.” In Latin America, the term typically refers to a small or modest boat, often one suitable for activities like fishing, rather than a large vessel.

Why is the pronoun lo used in lo asustó, and what does it refer to?

The pronoun lo is a direct object pronoun that stands in for the masculine noun mi hermano (my brother) to avoid repetition. It indicates that my brother was the one who was frightened by the enormous fish.

What is the function of the phrase para pescar in the sentence?

The phrase para pescar uses para followed by an infinitive to express purpose. It explains why the boat was rented—that is, it was rented for fishing.

How does the conjunction pero affect the sentence’s structure and meaning?