Breakdown of Hoy comemos en la cafetería de la escuela.
en
in
nosotros
we
la escuela
the school
hoy
today
de
of
comer
to eat
la cafetería
the cafeteria
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Questions & Answers about Hoy comemos en la cafetería de la escuela.
Why is comemos in the simple present (instead of comeremos) even though we’re talking about a meal happening later today?
In Spanish the simple present often doubles as a near-future tense for scheduled events—much like saying “we’re eating” later today. While you could use comeremos (future indicative) or vamos a comer (ir + a + infinitive) to stress the future, Hoy comemos... is the most natural way to announce today’s meal plan.
Why isn’t nosotros included? How do we know who’s eating?
Spanish verb endings tell you the subject. The -emos ending in comemos clearly indicates nosotros/nosotras (we). Subject pronouns like nosotros are optional and usually reserved for emphasis or contrast.
What’s the difference between comemos and estamos comiendo? Can I use either here?
Comemos (simple present) describes habitual actions or fixed plans (e.g. today’s menu). Estamos comiendo (present progressive) focuses on an action happening right now (“we are eating at this very moment”). To announce lunch plans, Hoy comemos... is more appropriate; if you’re in the middle of lunch, you’d say Estamos comiendo.
Does hoy have to come at the beginning? Can I say Comemos hoy en la cafetería de la escuela?
Spanish word order is flexible. Starting with Hoy places emphasis on “today,” but Comemos hoy... is also correct. Both communicate the same meaning with only a slight nuance in focus.
Why do we use en la cafetería and not a la cafetería after comemos?
After action verbs like comer, Spanish uses en to indicate where something takes place (“in/at the cafeteria”). A la cafetería implies movement toward that place; you’d need a verb like ir (“vamos a la cafetería”) to express “we’re going to the cafeteria.”
Why is it de la escuela and not just de escuela? Do we need the article?
Yes. When expressing possession or relationship for a specific thing, you use de + definite article + noun: la cafetería de la escuela literally “the cafeteria of the school.” Omitting la would sound too generic, like “of school” in an abstract sense.
What role does the accent mark play in cafetería?
The accent on the í shows that the stress falls on that syllable. Without it, Spanish rules would stress the penultimate syllable (ca-fe-TE-ria), altering the pronunciation. It also separates the vowel sequence -ía into two syllables (rí-a) rather than forming a diphthong.
Why escuela here? Couldn’t I use colegio or instituto for “school”?
Terms for “school” vary by region. In much of Latin America, escuela is the general term for any educational institution (especially primary). Colegio often refers to private or certain secondary schools, while instituto can mean a specialized or vocational school. Escuela is the safest, most neutral choice.
Is Hoy vamos a comer en la cafetería de la escuela just as correct as Hoy comemos...?
Yes. Hoy vamos a comer... uses the ir + a + infinitive construction for future plans and is very common. Hoy comemos... is shorter and focuses on the schedule rather than the act of going.
Can I say la cafetería escolar instead of la cafetería de la escuela?
Absolutely. Cafetería escolar is an adjective-noun form meaning “school cafeteria” and is more concise. Both phrases are grammatically correct and widely used.