Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): El pegamento no seca rápido; mejor usa cinta para cerrar el sobre. - The glue doesn’t dry fast; better use tape to seal the envelope.

Transitive: secar = “to dry (something).” Example: El sol seca la ropa. (The sun dries the clothes.)
Pronominal/intransitive: secarse = “to get dry.” Example: La ropa se seca al sol.

With substances like paint or glue, many speakers also use intransitive secar without “se”: La pintura/El pegamento seca rápido. This is widespread and accepted. However, se seca is more neutral and common everywhere: El pegamento no se seca rápido.

Is “rápido” correct as an adverb, or should it be “rápidamente”?

Both are correct. Rápido can function as an adverb in everyday Spanish, and it’s more common and concise. Rápidamente is a bit more formal or careful in tone. Do not say rápida here—adverbs don’t agree in gender/number. You can also say deprisa (“quickly”) in many contexts.

Could I use “pronto” instead of “rápido”?

No. Pronto means “soon,” referring to time rather than speed. No seca pronto would mean “it doesn’t dry soon,” not “it doesn’t dry quickly.” Use rápido/rápidamente/deprisa for speed.

What does “mejor usa” literally mean, and how strong is it?

It’s an ellipsis meaning “(It’s) better (if you) use…,” so it’s a mild, friendly suggestion—like “You’d better use tape.” Softer or more explicit variants:

Es mejor usar cinta…
Sería mejor que usaras cinta…
Más vale que uses cinta… (slightly stronger warning flavor)

How do I change the imperative for formality or plural?

Informal singular (tú): usa; negative: no uses
Formal singular (usted): use; negative: no use
Plural (ustedes): usen; negative: no usen
Voseo (e.g., Argentina): usá; negative: no usés Examples: Mejor use cinta… (usted), Mejor usen cinta… (ustedes), Mejor usá cinta… (vos).

Where do pronouns go with “usa” in this sentence?

With affirmative commands, pronouns attach to the end; with negatives, they go before:

“Use it (the tape).” → Mejor úsala (because cinta is feminine).
“Use tape to close it (the envelope).” → Mejor usa cinta para cerrarlo or Mejor úsala para cerrarlo.
Negatives: No la uses, No lo cierres. Note the accent on úsala/úsalo/úsenla, etc.

Why is there no article before “cinta”? Could I say “la cinta” or “una cinta”?

Spanish often omits the article when referring to materials/tools in a generic way: usa cinta ≈ “use tape.”

la cinta = a specific tape already known in context.
una cinta would mean “a (single) roll/piece of tape,” which is unusual unless you’re emphasizing “one piece/one roll.” More natural: usa un pedazo de cinta if you mean a piece.

Does “cinta” always mean tape? How can I be explicit?

Cinta can mean tape or ribbon. If there’s any chance of confusion, say cinta adhesiva (adhesive tape). Other common specifics:

cinta transparente (clear tape)
cinta de enmascarar (masking tape) Brand-based terms exist (e.g., “Scotch,” “Diurex” in Mexico), but cinta (adhesiva) is widely understood across Latin America.

Is “El pegamento” necessary? Could I drop the article?

Keep the article. Spanish typically uses the definite article for general statements: El pegamento no seca rápido (“Glue doesn’t dry quickly”). Pegamento no seca… sounds off in standard usage.

What’s the difference between “El pegamento no seca rápido” and “El pegamento no está seco”?

No seca rápido: talks about the glue’s drying speed (general tendency or in this situation).
No está seco: describes its current state (“it isn’t dry yet”).

Why is there a semicolon? Could I use a comma or a period instead?

The semicolon neatly links two closely related ideas while keeping them separate. You could also write:

Comma (common in informal writing): …, mejor usa cinta…
Period: El pegamento no seca rápido. Mejor usa cinta… All are acceptable; the semicolon is just a tidy stylistic choice.

Can I say “usa mejor” instead of “mejor usa”?

Be careful—word order changes meaning:

Mejor usa… = “You’d better use…” (a recommendation)
Usa mejor… = “Use better…” (i.e., improve the way you use something), or “Use better tape” if followed by a noun: Usa mejor cinta (comparative of quality), which is not the intended meaning here.

Is “para cerrar” the right way to express purpose? When would I use “para que”?

Same subject: para + infinitive. Here, you (tú) both use the tape and close the envelope: usa cinta para cerrar el sobre.
Different subject or desired outcome: para que + subjunctive. Example: Usa cinta para que el sobre no se abra / …para que se cierre bien.

Could I say “sellar el sobre” instead of “cerrar el sobre”?

Yes. Sellar means “to seal” and sounds a bit more specific or formal. Cerrar is more general and common in everyday speech. Both are fine in this context.

Are there other words for “pegamento” in Latin America?

Yes, but usage varies by country:

pegamento: neutral and widely understood.
goma: “glue” in several countries; in others it means “eraser.”
pegante: common in Colombia.
cola: often “wood glue”; more common in Spain.
Brand-based: Resistol (Mexico), etc. If in doubt, pegamento is safe.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

pegamento: pe-ga-MEN-to (stress on MEN); g like in “go.”
seca: SE-ka; c before “a/o/u” sounds like “k.”
rápido: RÁ-pi-do; tap the single r; stress the first syllable (accent mark).
mejor: me-HOR; the j is a harsh “h.”
cinta: SEEN-ta (Latin America; no “th” sound).
cerrar: se-RRAR; strong rolled rr in the middle.
sobre: SO-bre.

Does “rápido” need the accent? And why doesn’t “El” have one?

rápido must have the accent; it’s stressed on the first syllable.
El (article “the”) never has an accent, even at the start of a sentence. Él (with accent) means “he,” which isn’t used here. The sentence correctly begins with El (article).