Escribo en la computadora con el teclado inalámbrico.

I write on the computer with the wireless keyboard.

Breakdown of Escribo en la computadora con el teclado inalámbrico.

• yo: I
• con: with
• en: on
• la computadora: the computer

Questions & Answers about Escribo en la computadora con el teclado inalámbrico.

Why is the verb in the simple present (escribo) rather than a continuous form like “I am writing”?

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.