Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Leemos en el balcón cuando hay brisa y sol suave. - We read on the balcony when there is a breeze and soft sun.

Spanish usually drops subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows the subject. Leemos clearly means “we read.” You can add Nosotros leemos for emphasis or contrast (e.g., Nosotros leemos, ellos ven TV), but it isn’t required.

Why is the simple present (leemos) used instead of the progressive (estamos leyendo)?

Spanish uses the simple present for habitual actions. Leemos… cuando… = “We read (as a habit) when…”. Use estamos leyendo only if you mean “we are reading right now.”

How do you pronounce and conjugate leemos?

Pronunciation: three syllables, with a clear break between the two e’s: “leh-EH-mohs” (le-e-mos). Don’t say “lemos” or “leyemos.”
Present of leer: leo, lees, lee, leemos, leen. The form doesn’t change for nosotros vs nosotras.

Why is it en el balcón and not just “en balcón”?

With specific places, Spanish normally uses a definite article: en el balcón, en la cocina, en el parque. A common exception is en casa (no article). Here, the balcony is a specific spot, so el is needed.

Why use en (in/on/at) and not sobre or a?

en marks location: Leemos en el balcón = “We read on the balcony.”
sobre can mean “on top of,” but with places like balconies, en is the idiomatic choice.
a is used for movement: Salimos al balcón = “We go out to the balcony.”

Why hay and not es or está for weather?

Hay expresses existence: hay brisa, hay sol (“there is/are”). Use estar to locate or describe known things: El sol está fuerte hoy. Don’t say está brisa for “there’s a breeze.”

Is hay sol correct, or should it be hace sol?

Both occur:

Hace sol = “It’s sunny” (very common and idiomatic).
Hay sol = “There’s sun / The sun is out” (also used). For breeze, hay brisa is standard; you’ll also hear corre una brisa. In some regions people say hace brisa, but hay brisa is safer universally.

Why is there no article before brisa or sol suave after hay?

After hay, Spanish typically uses bare or indefinite nouns to talk about existence. Hay brisa, hay sol suave. Avoid a definite article: not hay el sol. You can say hay una brisa to mean “there’s a (noticeable) breeze,” a bit more specific than hay brisa.

What does suave mean here, and where does the adjective go?

Suave means “gentle/mild/soft.” Adjectives usually follow the noun: sol suave. Putting it before (suave sol) is more poetic or emphatic.

Should suave agree with both “brisa” and “sol”? Why isn’t it plural?

In the sentence, suave clearly modifies only sol: brisa and sol suave. If you want “gentle” to describe both, make the adjective plural: cuando hay brisa y sol suaves, or say it twice: hay brisa suave y sol suave.

When do I use the subjunctive after cuando? Why not here?

For habitual/general time, use the present indicative in both clauses: Leemos… cuando hay…. For future, use future + present subjunctive: Leeremos en el balcón cuando haya brisa y sol suave (“We will read… when there is…”).

Do I need a comma before cuando?

Main clause first: usually no comma: Leemos… cuando hay….
If the cuando clause comes first, use a comma: Cuando hay brisa y sol suave, leemos en el balcón.

What’s the difference between balcón and terraza in Latin America?

Balcón: a projecting structure attached to a building facade (often small).
Terraza: a terrace, rooftop, or larger outdoor area. Many places use terraza for a spacious outdoor spot. A “porch” is usually porche.

Why does balcón have an accent, and what’s its plural?

The accent marks the stress on the last syllable: bal-CÓN. The plural is balcones (no accent) because the stress naturally shifts to the penultimate syllable: bal-CO-nes.