Mi lámpara parpadea a veces.

my

Breakdown of Mi lámpara parpadea a veces.

• a veces: sometimes
• la lámpara: the lamp
• parpadear: to flicker

Questions & Answers about Mi lámpara parpadea a veces.

Which word is the verb here, and why is it in that form?

The verb is parpadea. It’s the third-person singular present of parpadear (“to blink”/“to flicker”), agreeing with the subject mi lámpara (third person, singular). This present tense expresses a habitual action: “flickers (sometimes).”

Does parpadear only mean “to blink” (with eyes), or can it mean “to flicker” for lights too?

It primarily means “to blink” (eyes), but it’s also used for lights that flicker. In Latin America you’ll also hear:

• titilar: “to twinkle/flicker” (very common for lights and stars)
• falla / está fallando: “it fails/it’s acting up”
• se prende y se apaga: “it turns on and off (by itself)” All of these can describe a flickering light depending on context.

Is parpadea the correct conjugation for “my lamp flickers”?

Yes. Mi lámpara = third-person singular, so you use parpadea. For reference:

• yo parpadeo
• tú parpadeas
• él/ella/usted parpadea

Why does lámpara have an accent?

Because it’s an esdrújula (stress on the third-to-last syllable): LÁM-pa-ra. All esdrújulas carry a written accent in Spanish.