Breakdown of Si la empleada aprende rápido, la jefa la contratará para otro turno.
aprender
to learn
si
if
para
for
rápido
fast
otro
another
la
her
la jefa
the boss
contratar
to hire
la empleada
the employee
el turno
the shift
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Questions & Answers about Si la empleada aprende rápido, la jefa la contratará para otro turno.
Why is it present tense (aprende) after si instead of future (aprenderá)?
In Spanish, real or likely conditions use si + present indicative and the result clause can take the future, present, or imperative. So: Si la empleada aprende rápido, la jefa la contratará... Avoid future in the si-clause: not ✗ Si la empleada aprenderá...
Should it be subjunctive (aprenda) after si?
Not in this kind of likely condition. Use indicative: si + present indicative. Use the subjunctive for more hypothetical/unlikely conditions:
- Less likely/polite: Si la empleada aprendiera rápido, la jefa la contrataría...
- Contrary to fact (past): Si la empleada hubiera aprendido rápido, la jefa la habría contratado...
What do the two instances of la mean here?
- First la in la empleada is the definite article “the” (feminine singular).
- Second la in la contratará is the direct object pronoun “her,” referring back to la empleada.
Can I use le instead of la (leísmo)?
In Latin America, stick to direct object pronouns lo/la. La jefa le contratará is considered incorrect there. In parts of Spain, leísmo allows le as a direct object for people (mostly masculine), but not in standard Latin American usage. For a female direct object: la.
Why is it rápido and not rápidamente?
In Latin American Spanish, rápido is very commonly used as an adverb meaning “quickly.” Rápidamente is also correct and a bit more formal. You could also hear deprisa (“quickly, in a hurry”).
Does rápido agree in gender here?
No. As an adverb, rápido is invariable: aprende rápido for both male and female subjects. Don’t say ✗ aprende rápida to mean “learns quickly.”
Why is there a comma after the si-clause?
When the si-clause comes first, Spanish uses a comma before the main clause: Si..., [comma] .... If the si-clause comes second, no comma is needed: La jefa la contratará para otro turno si la empleada aprende rápido.
Why para otro turno and not por otro turno or a otro turno?
- Para expresses purpose/goal/assignment: hired for a certain role/shift.
- Por would suggest cause, exchange, or duration—not the intended meaning here.
- A marks direction or the personal a before people; it’s not used to mark the role/assignment with contratar. Collocation: contratar a alguien para [puesto/turno].
Why is it otro turno and not un otro turno?
Otro already includes the idea of “an/one other,” so you don’t add un. Spanish says otro turno, not ✗ un otro turno, except in rare emphatic contrasts.
Can I switch the order of the two clauses?
Yes. Both are fine:
- Si la empleada aprende rápido, la jefa la contratará para otro turno.
- La jefa la contratará para otro turno si la empleada aprende rápido.
Only the first version takes the comma.
Where else can I place the object pronoun?
With a conjugated verb, the pronoun goes before it: La jefa la contratará...
With the periphrastic future, you have two options: La jefa la va a contratar... or La jefa va a contratarla...
Don’t place the pronoun after a finite verb: not ✗ contratará la.
Do I need the personal a with contratar?
Yes, with an explicit human direct object: La jefa contratará a la empleada...
When you replace the noun with a direct object pronoun (la), the a is not used: La jefa la contratará...
How would it change for a male employee?
Use masculine forms: Si el empleado aprende rápido, la jefa lo contratará para otro turno.
Does si need an accent?
No. Si without accent means “if.” Sí with accent means “yes.” In this sentence it’s Si (no accent).
Why not use cuando instead of si?
Si expresses a condition (“if”). Cuando expresses time (“when”) and, for future reference, typically takes the subjunctive: Cuando la empleada aprenda, la jefa la contratará. That states the hiring will happen when the learning occurs, not a conditional “if.”
Are both la jefa and la empleada definitely specific people?
Using the definite article (la) suggests they are specific/known individuals. If you wanted to speak in general terms, you’d use una empleada or una jefa where appropriate (e.g., Si una empleada aprende rápido, la jefa la contratará... implies a generic employee but a specific boss).
Any accent notes in the sentence?
- rápido has an accent because it’s stressed on the third-to-last syllable (all esdrújulas carry an accent).
- contratará has an accent to mark the final stress of the future tense.
- si here has no accent (it’s “if,” not “yes”).