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Questions & Answers about Mi sombrero está mojado.
Why do we use estar (está) instead of ser?
Spanish has two verbs for “to be”:
- ser for permanent or defining characteristics
- estar for temporary states or locations
Since being wet is a temporary condition of the hat, we use estar: Mi sombrero está mojado.
Why does está have an accent?
In Spanish, esta (without accent) is a demonstrative adjective meaning “this” (feminine). The verb está (with accent) is the third person singular of estar in the present tense. The accent marks the stressed syllable and distinguishes it from the adjective esta.
What’s the difference between mojado and húmedo?
- mojado: soaked or saturated with water (“wet”).
- húmedo: slightly moist or damp (“humid”).
A hat in the rain is mojado, while a towel left in a steamy bathroom might be húmedo.
Why is the adjective mojado placed after the noun sombrero?
In Spanish, descriptive adjectives normally follow the noun: sustantivo + adjetivo. Placing mojado after sombrero is the standard order. Putting it before (el mojado sombrero) is grammatically possible but would sound marked or poetic.
Why do we say mi sombrero instead of mío sombrero?
- mi is the weak (atonic) possessive adjective and always precedes the noun: mi sombrero.
- mío is the strong (tonic) possessive pronoun/adjective and goes after the noun (often with an article): el sombrero mío or stands alone: el mío.
Could you say El sombrero mío está mojado instead of Mi sombrero está mojado?
Yes, it’s grammatically correct but less common. Using el sombrero mío (strong possessive) sounds more emphatic or colloquial. Most speakers prefer the simpler mi sombrero está mojado, or just el mío está mojado if the context is clear.
How would the sentence change if the noun were feminine or plural?
Both the possessive and the adjective must agree in gender and number:
• Feminine singular: Mi falda está mojada
• Masculine plural: Mis sombreros están mojados
• Feminine plural: Mis faldas están mojadas
Why isn’t a subject pronoun (like él or yo) used in Mi sombrero está mojado?
Spanish often omits subject pronouns because the verb ending indicates the subject. Here, está (-a) shows third person singular. Adding él would be redundant and might confuse readers into thinking you mean a person rather than the hat.