Breakdown of Un ingeniero revisa cada motor en la fábrica.
en
in
cada
each, every
revisar
to check
un
a
el motor
the engine
la fábrica
the factory
el ingeniero
the engineer
Questions & Answers about Un ingeniero revisa cada motor en la fábrica.
Why is un used instead of el before ingeniero?
We use the indefinite article un when we’re referring to “an engineer” in a non-specific sense—just one engineer, not a particular one. If we said el ingeniero, we would be talking about a specific engineer that both speaker and listener already know.
Why is cada followed by a singular noun (motor) instead of a plural?
In Spanish, cada always takes a singular noun because it means “each” or “every one individually.” So you say cada motor (“each engine”), not cada motores.
Could we use todos los motores instead of cada motor?
Yes, you could say Un ingeniero revisa todos los motores en la fábrica, which means “An engineer inspects all the engines in the factory.” The nuance is different:
- cada motor emphasizes inspecting them one by one, individually.
- todos los motores stresses the group as a whole (“all the engines”).
Why isn’t there a personal a before cada motor?
Spanish uses the personal a before human or personified direct objects. Since motor is an inanimate object, there is no a. You would not say revisa a cada motor.
What’s the function of en in en la fábrica and could we say de la fábrica instead?
- en indicates location (“in the factory”).
- de la fábrica would mean “of the factory” or “from the factory,” which changes the meaning (belonging to or originating from). So use en for “inside/at” a place.
Can we drop the article and say en fábrica?
Not in standard Spanish. You need the article la with fábrica: en la fábrica. Omitting it sounds ungrammatical unless it’s a set phrase (e.g., “fábrica militar”).
Why is the verb revisa in the simple present tense? Could we use a different tense?
The simple present (revisa) expresses habitual or regular actions: “He inspects engines as part of his routine.” You could use the present progressive (está revisando) only if you mean “He is inspecting (right now).”
Are there other verbs we could use instead of revisa?
Yes. Depending on formality and nuance, you could say:
- checa (colloquial in some regions)
- inspecciona (more technical/formal)
- examina (formal)
Each has a slightly different tone but all mean “checks/inspects.”
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“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.
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