Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La isla es un paraíso para nadar.

Spanish normally requires a definite article (el, la) before common nouns when you speak about them in a general or specific sense. Here, la isla literally means “the island.” In English you’d say “the island is a paradise,” so Spanish mirrors that with la before isla.

Why is es used here instead of está?

Spanish has two verbs for “to be”: ser (es) and estar (está).
• Use ser (es) for inherent qualities, identity or permanent features: “La isla es un paraíso.”
• Use estar (está) for temporary states, locations or conditions: “La isla está llena de turistas.”
Because being a “paradise” is seen as a defining characteristic, we choose es.

Why is there an accent on paraíso?

Accent rules in Spanish: words ending in a vowel, -n or -s are stressed on the second-to-last syllable by default. Paraíso is stressed on the third-to-last syllable (pa-ra-Í-so), so it needs a written accent on the í to show that shift.

Why do we use un before paraíso?

Un is the masculine singular indefinite article (“a/an”). Since paraíso is a masculine noun (“el paraíso”), we pair it with un to mean “a paradise.” Without it, the sentence would lack that indefinite sense:
“La isla es paraíso” would sound more poetic or incomplete.

What does para in para nadar indicate, and why not por?

Para + infinitive expresses purpose or goal: “in order to swim.”
• para nadar = “for swimming” (purpose)
• por would express reason, cause or exchange, not purpose: por nadar wouldn’t mean “in order to swim.”

Why is nadar in the infinitive form?

After para, you always use the infinitive (the unconjugated verb) to express purpose:
“La isla es un paraíso para nadar.”
If you tried a gerund (“nadando”) or a conjugated verb, it would break that structure.

Could we say La isla es un paraíso nadando?

No. Without para, pairing the gerund nadando with es doesn’t express purpose. It would read awkwardly like “the island is swimming,” which doesn’t make sense. The correct way to show that the island is ideal for swimming is with para nadar.

If I wanted to mention the clear waters, how would I expand the sentence?

You can add a prepositional phrase or adjective after nadar. For example:
“La isla es un paraíso para nadar en aguas cristalinas.”
Here en aguas cristalinas (“in crystal-clear waters”) gives more detail about where the swimming paradise is.