Breakdown of La directora trabaja en la escuela.
en
in
la escuela
the school
trabajar
to work
la directora
the principal
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Questions & Answers about La directora trabaja en la escuela.
Why is directora feminine instead of director?
In Spanish, many job titles change ending to match the speaker’s gender. Since the person is a woman, director (masculine) becomes directora (feminine).
Why do we say la directora instead of just directora?
Most singular countable nouns in Spanish require a definite article (el/la) when you talk about a specific person or thing. Here, la indicates you mean a particular female director.
How do I form other feminine job titles in Spanish?
As a rule of thumb, change the masculine –o ending to –a:
• Profesor → profesora
• Enfermero → enfermera
Exceptions exist (actor/actriz), but most follow –o/–a.
What is the form trabaja in La directora trabaja?
Trabaja is the third-person singular present indicative of trabajar. It means “he/she/it works” or “you (formal) work.”
Why use en la escuela and not a la escuela?
• En expresses location (“at/in the school”).
• A expresses direction or movement (“to the school”).
Since the sentence states where she works, you need en.
Why is there la before escuela?
Escuela is a feminine noun. When referring to a specific school, Spanish normally requires the definite article la.
Can I say Trabaja la directora en la escuela?
Yes, it’s grammatically correct but less neutral. Standard Spanish orders subject–verb–object: La directora trabaja en la escuela. Fronting the verb adds emphasis or stylistic flair.
What’s the difference between escuela and colegio?
Both can mean “school,” but usage varies by country:
• In much of Latin America, escuela is general (any school) and colegio often means private or K–12 institution.
• In Spain, colegio usually refers to primary school. Always check local usage.