Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Escribo en la computadora con el teclado inalámbrico. - I write on the computer with the wireless keyboard.

In Spanish, the simple present often covers both “I write” and “I am writing.” You’d only switch to the periphrastic continuous (estoy escribiendo) when you want to stress that the action is happening right at this moment. Otherwise, escribo is perfectly natural to say “I write on the computer” or “I am writing on the computer.”

Why do we use en before la computadora instead of another preposition or no preposition?

Spanish uses en to indicate where you write. Saying escribo en la computadora literally means “I write on the computer.” If you dropped en, it would sound unnatural and unclear. If you used con there, you’d shift the focus to the instrument (you’d be saying “I write with the computer,” which is odd if you actually mean you write on it).

Why is con used before el teclado inalámbrico?

Con marks the instrument or tool you’re using. Here, the keyboard is the tool for writing. So con el teclado inalámbrico means “with the wireless keyboard.” It tells us how you’re writing on the computer.

In English we say “wireless keyboard.” Why does inalámbrico come after teclado in Spanish?

The default noun–adjective order in Spanish is noun + adjective. Thus, teclado inalámbrico. Placing certain adjectives before the noun can add emphasis or change nuance, but for simple descriptions you almost always put the adjective after.

Why does inalámbrico have an accent on the second “a”?

Inalámbrico is a six-syllable word: i-ná-lam-bri-co. Spanish rules say that if a word ends in a vowel, n or s, the stress falls on the next-to-last syllable. Here the stressed syllable is ná, so you need the written accent: inalámbrico.

Why is computadora feminine and why do we use the article la?

Words ending in –a are usually feminine, so you pair computadora with la. In Spanish, you generally use the definite article when talking about things in general or when the object is known: la computadora (“the computer”).

Could I say ordenador instead of computadora?

In Spain, people often say ordenador, but in most of Latin America computadora is the standard term. In some regions you might even hear computador, but if you’re aiming for neutral Latin American Spanish, stick with computadora.

Can I drop the articles and say Escribo en computadora con teclado inalámbrico?

No. Unlike English, Spanish almost always requires the definite article before singular, concrete nouns when you’re speaking about them in a general or habitual sense. Omitting it sounds odd or ungrammatical.