Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): La entrevistadora aclaró la última duda con un ejemplo. - The interviewer clarified the last question with an example.

It’s the preterite (simple past), 3rd person singular of aclarar. It presents a completed action in the past: the interviewer clarified the doubt and the action is finished.

Could I use ha aclarado instead of aclaró?

Yes, but it depends on variety and nuance. In much of Latin America, the preterite (aclaró) is preferred for most past events, even recent ones. In Spain, ha aclarado (present perfect) is common for recent past with present relevance.

Why do aclaró and última have accent marks?

aclaró has an accent to mark stress on the final syllable and to distinguish it from aclaro (I clarify).
última is an esdrújula (stress on the third-to-last syllable); all such words carry an accent: úl-ti-ma.

Why is it la entrevistadora (feminine)? Could I say el entrevistador?

Occupations are gendered in Spanish. La entrevistadora refers to a female interviewer; el entrevistador to a male one. If you know the person is a woman, use the feminine. The masculine can be used generically in some contexts, but many speakers prefer matching the person’s gender.

Why is there no subject pronoun (ella)?

Spanish is a null-subject language. The verb ending already shows the subject (3rd person singular), so ella is optional and only added for emphasis or clarity: Ella aclaró…

Does duda here mean “doubt” or “question”?

Both are possible in Spanish. In everyday use, tengo una duda often means “I have a question.” The collocation aclarar una duda is idiomatic: to clear up a doubt/question.

Is aclarar the best verb here? How does it differ from explicar, resolver, or despejar?

aclarar: to make something clearer, remove confusion; collocates naturally with duda.
explicar: to explain something; focuses on giving an explanation rather than removing doubt.
resolver: to solve/resolve; works with problems or doubts when they’re treated like issues to be settled.
despejar (una duda): to clear away a doubt; similar to aclarar, a bit more figurative.

Do I need the personal a before la última duda?

No. The personal a marks animate/specific human direct objects. La última duda is an inanimate thing, so no a. But you will use a for the person who receives the clarification: aclaró la última duda al candidato.

How would I replace la última duda with a pronoun?

Use the feminine direct-object pronoun la: La entrevistadora la aclaró con un ejemplo. If you also include an indirect object:

To me: La entrevistadora me la aclaró con un ejemplo.
To him/her: La entrevistadora se la aclaró al candidato con un ejemplo. (Here, le becomes se before la.)

How do I explicitly include who received the explanation?

Use the pattern aclarar algo a alguien:

La entrevistadora aclaró la última duda al candidato con un ejemplo.
Optionally add an IO pronoun for naturalness: La entrevistadora le aclaró la última duda al candidato… (or with clitics only: Se la aclaró al candidato…)

Why is última placed before duda? Can I put it after?

Certain adjectives (like último/primero/nuevo/gran/buen/mal) commonly precede the noun. La última duda is the normal order. La duda última is unusual and can sound like “the ultimate/final doubt” in a literary or philosophical sense, not just the last remaining doubt.

Is there a difference between la última duda and la duda final?

Both can work, but la última duda is the more idiomatic everyday choice. La duda final sounds a bit more formal or stylized and can suggest the doubt that comes at the end of a process or list.

Why the definite article la before última duda? Could I use una?

La signals a specific, known last doubt (the one that remained). Una última duda means “one last doubt” and introduces it as new information or adds a rhetorical touch (often used when you’re about to ask a final question).

What’s the difference between con un ejemplo and por ejemplo?

con un ejemplo = by means of a (specific) example; it describes the method used.
por ejemplo = “for example,” used to introduce an example in speech/writing, not to describe the means.
Here, con un ejemplo is correct.

Are there other natural ways to say “with an example”?

Yes: mediante un ejemplo, a través de un ejemplo, poniendo un ejemplo. They’re all acceptable; con is the most neutral.

Can I change the word order for emphasis?

Yes. Some natural variants:

Con un ejemplo, la entrevistadora aclaró la última duda. (fronts the method)
La última duda, la aclaró la entrevistadora con un ejemplo. (fronts the object; note the clitic la)
Fue con un ejemplo como la entrevistadora aclaró la última duda. (cleft construction)

How would I say it in passive or impersonal forms?

Passive: La última duda fue aclarada por la entrevistadora con un ejemplo.
Impersonal/se-passive: Se aclaró la última duda con un ejemplo.
If mentioning the beneficiary: Se le aclaró la última duda al candidato con un ejemplo.

If there were several doubts, how would it change?

Pluralize nouns, articles, and pronouns:

La entrevistadora aclaró las últimas dudas con un ejemplo.
With pronouns: La entrevistadora las aclaró… / Se las aclaró al candidato…

Does the verb form change because the subject is feminine?

No. Verbs don’t mark gender. Aclaró is the 3rd person singular preterite regardless of la entrevistadora or el entrevistador.

Any quick pronunciation tips?

aclaró: stress the last syllable (a-cla-RO); the single r is a tap.
última: stress the first syllable (ÚL-ti-ma).
entrevistadora: stress on -do- (en-tre-vis-ta-DO-ra).