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Questions & Answers about El profesor es responsable.
Why is the verb ser used instead of estar in this sentence?
Ser is used to describe inherent or defining characteristics—traits that are seen as permanent. In this sentence, being responsible is considered an essential quality of the professor, whereas estar would imply a temporary state.
What does the adjective responsable mean in this context?
In this context, responsable means that the professor is dependable, reliable, and trustworthy. It indicates that he consistently fulfills his duties and obligations.
How do the article, noun, and adjective agree in this sentence?
The article el is masculine singular, and it pairs with the masculine noun profesor. The adjective responsable agrees in gender and number with the noun. Since responsable has the same form in both masculine and feminine singular, it remains unchanged.
Could the adjective responsable be used for temporary conditions or does it strictly imply a permanent trait?
In this sentence, responsable implies a permanent, inherent quality of the professor. When describing a temporary state or condition, another adjective or construction would typically be used, since ser with responsable communicates a stable characteristic rather than a fleeting condition.
Is there any flexibility in the word order when constructing such a sentence in Spanish?
While Spanish allows some flexibility with adjective placement, in a typical linking verb structure like this the natural order is subject (with article and noun), followed by the linking verb es, and then the predicate adjective responsable. Placing the adjective before the noun (e.g., El responsable profesor) can change the emphasis or nuance.
How would the sentence change if referring to a female professor?
For a female professor, you would adjust both the article and noun to match the feminine form. The sentence becomes: La profesora es responsable. The adjective responsable remains the same because it does not change form between the masculine and feminine singular.