Learn Hardcore Spanish (Latin America): Tus modales son excelentes cuando brindas y miras a los ojos. - Your manners are excellent when you toast and look people in the eye.

Here, brindas means “you toast” (as in raising glasses and clinking them). It does not mean “you provide/offer,” even though brindar can also mean “to offer/provide” in other contexts.

Toasting: Brindamos por tu éxito. (We toast to your success.)
Offering: La empresa brinda apoyo. (The company provides support.)

Why is it "tus" and not "sus"?

Tus is the informal singular “your” (addressing one person as tú). Sus can mean “your” formal singular (usted), “your” plural (ustedes), or “his/her/their,” so it’s more ambiguous. The sentence is clearly talking to one person informally.

Why is "modales" plural? Can I say "modal" in the singular?

Modales means “manners,” and in Spanish it’s almost always used in the plural for this meaning: buenos modales, malos modales. The singular modal is not used to mean “a manner” in everyday Spanish; it’s mainly an adjective (“modal”) or a technical noun in linguistics.

Why "son" and not "están"?

Use ser for inherent or characteristic qualities. Tus modales son excelentes describes a general trait. Estar would sound odd here because it suggests a temporary condition: Tus modales están excelentes isn’t natural.

Why does "excelentes" end in -es?

Agreement: modales is masculine plural, so the adjective must be plural too: excelentes. The base form excelente doesn’t change for gender, only number (excelente → excelentes).

Why present tense after "cuando"? Should it be subjunctive?

With cuando:

For habitual/general statements, use the present indicative: cuando brindas y miras...
For a specific future event, use the present subjunctive: Tus modales serán excelentes cuando brindes y mires a los ojos.

Can I say "al brindar" instead of "cuando brindas"?

Yes. Al + infinitive often means “when/upon doing something.” For example: Tus modales son excelentes al brindar y al mirar a los ojos. Repeating al before both verbs is a bit more formal and clear, but you’ll also hear it only once before the first verb.

Why "mirar a los ojos" and not "mirar en los ojos" or just "mirar los ojos"?

The idiomatic expression is mirar a los ojos (“to look someone in the eye(s)”), using a. Saying mirar en los ojos is not idiomatic, and mirar los ojos means “to look at the eyes” (as objects), not “look someone in the eye.”

Why "miras" and not "ves"?

Mirar is “to look (at)”—an intentional action. Ver is “to see”—the passive act of vision. The idiom about eye contact uses mirar: mirar a los ojos. Using ver here would be unnatural.

Do I need to mention whose eyes or add a pronoun?

Not necessarily. Mirar a los ojos is understood as “look the other person in the eyes.” If you specify the person, you can say:

Miras a Juan a los ojos.
With a pronoun (Latin America, avoiding leísmo): Lo/La miras a los ojos. In Spain, you may hear Le miras a los ojos (leísmo), but in most of Latin America lo/la is preferred for direct objects.

Should the conjunction be "y" or "e" before "miras"?

Keep y. Spanish changes y to e only before words that start with the “i” sound (i-/hi- pronounced /i/), like e inteligente. Miras starts with “mi-,” so y miras is correct.

Why is there no subject pronoun "tú"?

Spanish commonly drops subject pronouns because the verb ending shows the subject. Brindas and miras already indicate “you (tú).” You’d add tú only for emphasis or contrast.

Can I put the "cuando" clause first?

Yes: Cuando brindas y miras a los ojos, tus modales son excelentes. When the cuando clause comes first, use a comma after it; when it comes second (as in the original), no comma is needed.

How would I say this formally or to more than one person in Latin America?

Formal singular (usted): Sus modales son excelentes cuando brinda y mira a los ojos.
Plural (ustedes): Sus modales son excelentes cuando brindan y miran a los ojos.

What about countries that use "vos"?

In voseo regions (e.g., Argentina, Uruguay, parts of Central America), you’d often hear: Tus modales son excelentes cuando brindás y mirás a los ojos. The stress shifts and the written accent appears on the last syllable of the verb.

Could I say "You have excellent manners when..." instead?

Yes: Tienes excelentes modales cuando brindas y miras a los ojos. Both this and Tus modales son excelentes... are natural. The first focuses on possession (“you have”), the second on description (“your manners are”).

What prepositions go with "brindar" when you add more detail?

Common patterns:

Brindar por + algo (the reason): Brindamos por tu éxito.
Brindar con + alguien (with whom): Brindé con mis amigos. You can combine them: Brindamos con todos por el ascenso.

Is there any cultural nuance about eye contact while toasting in Latin America?

Many Spanish-speaking cultures consider eye contact during a toast polite and confident, and some treat it as part of good luck or etiquette. It’s common but not universal; norms vary by country, setting, and formality.