Breakdown of La copa de vidrio está sobre el mantel.
estar
to be
de
of
el mantel
the tablecloth
sobre
on
el vidrio
the glass
la copa
the goblet
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about La copa de vidrio está sobre el mantel.
Why is it está and not es?
Spanish uses estar for the location of people and things, so you say La copa está…. Ser is for identity, inherent traits, time, and where events happen (for events you’d say La fiesta es en la casa). For a physical object’s location, always use estar.
Can I use en or encima de instead of sobre? What’s the nuance?
- sobre = on, on top of, over (often slightly more formal or precise; very common in writing).
- encima de = on top of (tends to imply physical contact; very common in speech).
- en = in/on/at (neutral and very common; context tells whether it’s in or on).
All three can work here:
- La copa de vidrio está sobre el mantel.
- La copa de vidrio está encima del mantel.
- La copa de vidrio está en el mantel. The first two usually highlight the idea of being on top; en is broader and relies on context.
Do I need to contract anything here, like del?
Not with sobre. You say sobre el mantel. The contraction del only happens with de + el. So if you use encima de, it becomes encima del mantel.
Does sobre also mean “about”? Is that a problem here?
Yes, sobre can mean “about/on the subject of” with abstract topics (e.g., un libro sobre historia). In your sentence it’s clearly spatial—“on (top of)”—so there’s no ambiguity.
What does mantel mean exactly, and how is it different from mesa?
mantel = tablecloth. mesa = table. If the cup is on the tablecloth, say sobre el mantel; if it’s on the table itself, say sobre la mesa. A placemat is mantelito individual in much of Latin America.
Why la copa but el mantel? How do I know the gender?
copa is a feminine noun, so it takes la. mantel is masculine, so it takes el. Gender is grammatical and often must be memorized. Many nouns ending in -a are feminine (like copa), and many ending in -l are masculine (like mantel), though there are exceptions.
What’s the difference between copa, vaso, and taza?
- copa: a stemmed glass (wine/champagne). Shape matters more than content.
- vaso: a tumbler (no stem), for water, juice, soda, etc.
- taza: a cup with a handle (coffee/tea). So a wineglass is a copa; a water glass is a vaso; a coffee cup is a taza.
Is copa always for alcoholic drinks?
No. It refers to the stemmed shape. You can have una copa de helado (ice-cream served in a coupe). However, in many contexts tomar una copa means to have an alcoholic drink.
Why add de vidrio? Could I say de cristal, or just leave it out?
de vidrio specifies the material (glass). You can omit it if the material doesn’t matter: La copa está sobre el mantel. de cristal is also common; in many places it can imply finer glassware or crystal. In general:
- de vidrio = made of glass (material).
- de cristal = crystal or fine glass (varies by region; both are understood).
Where does material information go? Why not vidrio copa?
Spanish normally uses de + material after the noun: copa de vidrio, mesa de madera, anillo de oro. Spanish does not stack nouns before other nouns the way English does; you don’t say vidrio copa.
What does the accent in está change? Is esta different?
Yes. está (with an accent) = he/she/it is. esta (no accent) = this (feminine demonstrative adjective), as in esta copa. The accent marks both meaning and stress. Also note: el (article) vs él (he); in your sentence it’s el (no accent) because it’s the article.
Can I omit the articles, like Copa de vidrio está sobre mantel?
No. In Spanish, articles are usually required with singular, countable nouns in statements. The natural version is La copa de vidrio está sobre el mantel.
How do I make it plural?
Las copas de vidrio están sobre los manteles.
Notes: copa → copas, mantel → manteles (words ending in -el often add -es), and está → están to agree with the plural subject.
Is the word order flexible, like Está la copa de vidrio sobre el mantel?
Yes, Spanish allows some flexibility. Está la copa de vidrio sobre el mantel is possible, often for emphasis or in specific discourse contexts. The most neutral order is the original subject–verb–complement.
Pronunciation tips for the sentence?
- Syllables and stress: la CO-pa de VI-drio es-TÁ SO-bre el man-TEL.
- b and v sound the same in Latin America.
- The single r in sobre is a light tap.
- The d in vidrio between vowels is soft.
- The accent in está marks the stressed syllable.
Can I say arriba de here?
In many parts of Latin America, arriba de is used colloquially for “on top of,” so La copa de vidrio está arriba del mantel will be understood. In careful or neutral speech, sobre or encima de are more standard.