Breakdown of El médico dice que también debo cuidar la muñeca cuando escribo mucho.
yo
I
mucho
a lot
que
that
cuando
when
decir
to say
escribir
to write
el médico
the doctor
también
also
deber
to have to
cuidar
to take care of
la muñeca
the wrist
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Questions & Answers about El médico dice que también debo cuidar la muñeca cuando escribo mucho.
Why do we say El médico dice que… instead of El médico dice:?
In Spanish, decir que introduces a subordinate clause (an indirect statement). Using a colon and direct speech (dice: “…”) would mean you’re quoting the doctor verbatim. Here it’s reported speech, so you need que.
What does también modify, and why is it placed before debo?
También means “also” or “too.” It modifies the whole obligation (debo cuidar la muñeca) and is placed immediately before the verb to clarify that taking care of the wrist is an additional recommendation.
Why use debo instead of tengo que or necesito?
Deber (debo) conveys a sense of moral or professional obligation (“I ought to”). Tener que expresses necessity or external obligation (“I have to”), and necesitar focuses on requirement or need. The doctor’s advice sounds more formal and duty-like with debo.
What exactly does cuidar mean here, and is it always transitive?
Cuidar means “to take care of” or “to look after.” In this sentence it’s transitive, so it needs a direct object (la muñeca). You can also use cuidarse reflexively (“take care of oneself”), but here the doctor tells you to care for a specific body part.
Why is it la muñeca? Doesn’t muñeca also mean “doll”?
Yes, muñeca can mean “doll,” but in medical and anatomical contexts it means “wrist.” All body parts in Spanish are usually accompanied by a definite article, so you say la muñeca rather than just muñeca.
Why is the verb escribo in the present tense after cuando?
When cuando refers to habitual or general actions, Spanish uses the present indicative even if you’re talking about future consequences. So cuando escribo mucho means “whenever I write a lot,” a repeated or general situation.
How do you pronounce muñeca, especially the ñ and the accent?
Muñeca is pronounced [muˈɲe.ka]. The ñ is like the “ny” in “canyon,” and the stress falls on the second syllable (ñé).
Could you say me debo cuidar la muñeca instead?
You could say me debo cuidar la muñeca, but it’s less common. Adding me makes it reflexive (“I must take care of my wrist myself”), which is redundant here. Native speakers typically use debo cuidar la muñeca without me.