Breakdown of El anuncio dice que el usuario debe descargar una aplicación para completar la entrevista en línea.
que
that
para
for
decir
to say
una
a
deber
must
descargar
to download
completar
to complete
la entrevista
the interview
el anuncio
the ad
el usuario
the user
la aplicación
the application
en línea
online
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Questions & Answers about El anuncio dice que el usuario debe descargar una aplicación para completar la entrevista en línea.
What does anuncio mean here?
Anuncio means advertisement or ad. In this context it refers to a public message (online, in print, etc.) informing users about what they need to do next.
Why is it dice que + indicative instead of the subjunctive?
After verbs of reporting or communication like decir, you use the indicative in the subordinate clause when you’re stating a fact. You would use the subjunctive only if there were doubt, emotion, or non-existence involved. Here, the ad is simply reporting a requirement, so we say dice que el usuario debe… with the indicative debe.
Why do we use the definite article el before usuario?
In Spanish, singular countable nouns referring to people (and many things) often take a definite article even if they haven’t been mentioned before. El usuario means the user in a general sense. Dropping the article (dice que usuario…) would sound unnatural.
What does debe descargar express, and can we use tiene que instead?
Debe descargar = must download or should download, using deber + infinitive to express obligation. You can also say tiene que descargar (has to download). Debe is slightly more formal or strong; tiene que is more colloquial.
Why is there an indefinite article una before aplicación?
Because the sentence isn’t referring to a specific app known in advance; it’s saying an application in general. Using una indicates any one app, not a particular one.
Can we say bajar instead of descargar for downloading an app?
Yes. In many Latin American dialects, bajar is an informal synonym for descargar. Both mean to download, but descargar is the standard term in formal or technical contexts.
What is the function of para in para completar la entrevista en línea?
Para introduces a purpose clause meaning in order to. So para completar la entrevista en línea literally means in order to complete the online interview. It explains the reason for downloading the app.
Why is there an accent on línea, and why do we say en línea instead of online?
Línea has three syllables (lí- ne- a) with stress on the first syllable. Spanish rules require an accent when the stress falls outside the standard pattern (penultimate syllable on a vowel). En línea is the Spanish phrase for online. You will see online sometimes, but en línea is fully Spanish.
Could we use hacer la entrevista en línea instead of completar la entrevista en línea?
Yes, you could say hacer la entrevista (to do the interview) or even realizar la entrevista (to carry out the interview). Completar emphasizes finishing every part of the process. The difference is subtle, and all three are understandable.
Could we drop el usuario and say El anuncio dice que debe descargar una aplicación…?
No. While you can drop subject pronouns (yo, tú, etc.) because the verb ending indicates the subject, you cannot drop a noun like usuario. Without el usuario, there’s no subject in the sentence.