Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Si giras a la izquierda en la próxima avenida, verás un café con techo rojo. - If you turn left at the next avenue, you will see a café with a red roof.

In Spanish, real or likely conditions use the present indicative in the si-clause (the “if” part). This is called the first conditional. You then pair it with a future indicative in the main clause. So you say si giras… verás… rather than si girarás… verás….

Why is verás in the future tense? Could you use another form?

Verás is the simple future of ver, matching the “if you turn… you will see…” meaning. You could also say vas a ver to express the same idea (colloquial “you’re going to see”). But the simple future is more direct and common in instructions.

Why don’t we include tú before giras?

Subject pronouns in Spanish are often omitted because the verb ending already shows the subject. Giras ends in –as, so it clearly means (tú) giras. Adding tú is grammatically correct (for emphasis or contrast) but not needed.

Why is it giras a la izquierda and not just giras izquierda?

In Spanish, turning directions use the preposition a plus the definite article: a la izquierda (“to the left”) or a la derecha (“to the right”). You can’t drop a without changing or losing the sense of direction.

What’s the difference between la próxima avenida and la siguiente avenida?

Both mean “the next avenue.” In Latin America they’re largely interchangeable. Some speakers use próxima when it’s very close (“the very next one”), and siguiente in a sequence, but you’ll hear either way.

Why do we use en la próxima avenida instead of a la próxima avenida?

En indicates location (“on the next avenue”). If you said a la próxima avenida, it would imply movement toward the avenue itself (“to the next avenue”), not that you’re turning onto it. After giras you want en to show where the turn lands.

Is café here “coffee” or “café” as a place? How can you tell?

Here café means a coffee shop. You know because it has a techo (“roof”), which makes sense for a building, not a drink.

Why is techo masculine, and why is the adjective rojo singular?

Spanish nouns ending in –o are usually masculine, so el techo. Adjectives match the gender and number of the noun they modify: techo (masculine, singular) → rojo (masculine, singular).

Why do we say con techo rojo instead of another structure like de techo rojo?

Con simply means “with,” and it’s a straightforward way to describe a feature of a place. Café con techo rojo = “a café with a red roof.” You could also say café de techo rojo, but that’s less common in everyday speech.