Log inSign up

Ella brinda con su hermana usando copas de vidrio.

Ella brinda con su hermana usando copas de vidrio.
She toasts with her sister using glass goblets.
FromLesson 39inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Ella brinda con su hermana usando copas de vidrio.

What does brinda mean here?
It’s the 3rd‑person singular present of brindar, meaning “to make a toast.” So ella brinda = “she toasts / she makes a toast.” Note: brindar can also mean “to offer/provide” in other contexts (e.g., brindar ayuda = “offer help”).
How is brindar conjugated in the present?
  • yo brindo
  • tú brindas
  • él/ella/usted brinda
  • nosotros brindamos
  • ustedes/ellos/ellas brindan In Latin America, ustedes is used for “you all” (not vosotros).
Can I say está brindando instead of brinda?
Yes. Brinda can mean “is toasting” or “toasts (habitually).” Está brindando emphasizes it’s happening right now. Both are correct depending on context.
What’s the difference between brindar con and brindar por?
  • brindar con + person/drink/object = to clink glasses with someone or to use a drink to toast (e.g., Brindó con su hermana, Brindamos con vino).
  • brindar por + person/thing = to toast to/in honor of someone/something (e.g., Brindó por su hermana).
Why not brindar a su hermana?
For toasting, Spanish uses brindar por (toast to) and brindar con (toast with). Brindar a is used with the “offer/provide” sense: brindar ayuda a alguien.
Does su hermana necessarily mean her own sister?

Su is ambiguous: it can mean her, his, their, or your (formal). Context usually makes it clear. To be explicit:

  • her own sister: su propia hermana or la hermana de ella
  • his sister: la hermana de él
  • their sister: la hermana de ellos/ellas
Why isn’t there an article before hermana?
With possessives (mi, tu, su, nuestro, etc.), Spanish doesn’t add an article: su hermana (not ×la su hermana).
What role does usando play here? Is it correct?

Usando is a gerund acting adverbially (“by/while using”), describing how she toasts. It’s correct because it refers to the subject (ella). Alternatives:

  • mientras usa copas de vidrio
  • al usar copas de vidrio (“when/while using”)
  • Replace with a prepositional phrase: con copas de vidrio
Could the position of usando change?

Yes:

  • Ella brinda con su hermana usando copas de vidrio.
  • Usando copas de vidrio, ella brinda con su hermana. (comma recommended)
  • Ella, usando copas de vidrio, brinda con su hermana.
Is it okay to say con copas de vidrio instead of usando…?

Yes: Ella brinda con su hermana con copas de vidrio is grammatical but a bit clunky with two con. Smoother rewrites:

  • Ella y su hermana brindan con copas de vidrio.
  • Keep your original: …usando copas de vidrio.
What’s the difference between copa, vaso, and taza?
  • copa: stemmed glass (wine/champagne); also “trophy.”
  • vaso: tumbler (no stem), for water, juice, soda.
  • taza: cup with handle (coffee/tea). So copas de vidrio are stemmed glasses made of glass.
Vidrio vs cristal: which sounds more natural?

Both are understood.

  • vidrio = glass (material), neutral.
  • cristal often implies fine glassware; many say copas de cristal for stemware. Your copas de vidrio is fine; copas de cristal can sound fancier.
Why is vidrio singular after de?
Material phrases use de + singular material: copas de vidrio, anillos de oro, mesas de madera.
How would I say She toasts to her sister?
Use brindar por: Ella brinda por su hermana. That’s different from brinda con su hermana (“she toasts with her sister”).
Any pronunciation tips for these words?
  • ella: ll sounds like English “y” in most of Latin America: [EH-ya]. No accent mark.
  • brinda: tap the single r lightly: [BREEN-da].
  • hermana: initial h is silent: [er-MA-na].
  • copas: [KO-pas].
  • vidrio: two syllables [VI-drio]; the d between vowels is soft.
Is brindar ever reflexive?
Not for toasting. You say brindar, not ×brindarse, to mean “to toast.” Reflexive brindarse (a) exists with the “to offer oneself/volunteer” meaning: Se brindó a ayudar.
What’s the noun for a toast?

el brindis. Common phrases:

  • hacer un brindis = to make a toast
  • proponer un brindis = to propose a toast
How would this look in past or future tense?
  • Preterite (completed past): Ella brindó con su hermana usando copas de vidrio.
  • Imperfect (background/habitual): Ella brindaba con su hermana...
  • Future: Ella brindará con su hermana...
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from Ella brinda con su hermana usando copas de vidrio to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Spanish freeBrowse the full course