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A menudo mi hermana compra pollo en el mercado cercano.

A menudo mi hermana compra pollo en el mercado cercano.
My sister often buys chicken at the nearby market.
FromLesson 18inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about A menudo mi hermana compra pollo en el mercado cercano.

What does A menudo mean and where does it go in a Spanish sentence?
A menudo means “often” or “frequently.” In Spanish, adverbs of frequency usually appear right before the main verb (A menudo mi hermana compra…), but you can also place them after the subject (Mi hermana a menudo compra…).
Why is there no article before pollo?
When referring to an unspecified amount of a food or mass noun, Spanish typically omits the article. compra pollo implies “she buys (some) chicken,” whereas compra el pollo would refer to a specific chicken or previously mentioned chicken.
Why is pollo singular rather than plural?
In Spanish, uncountable or mass nouns stay singular to indicate an indefinite quantity. Saying pollos would mean “whole chickens” counted individually.
Why is el used before mercado?
Spanish requires the definite article before a specific location. en el mercado means “at the market.” Omitting el (en mercado) would sound unnatural.
Why is cercano placed after mercado?
Most Spanish adjectives follow the noun they modify. mercado cercano literally means “nearby market.” Placing the adjective before (cercano mercado) either sounds poetic or changes the nuance.
Could you use cerca instead of cercano (e.g., mercado cerca)?
No. cercano is an adjective agreeing with mercado; it must follow the noun. cerca is an adverb meaning “close by.” You could say mercado cerca de casa (“market close to home”), but not mercado cerca alone.
What’s the difference between A menudo and Muchas veces?
Both translate as “often.” A menudo is slightly more formal and fixed in position. Muchas veces (“many times”) is more colloquial and can stress repetition.
Can the adverb a menudo appear in another spot?

Yes. Spanish word order is flexible. You could say:
• Mi hermana a menudo compra pollo…
• Mi hermana compra pollo a menudo en el mercado…
All are correct; the meaning stays the same.

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