Con cada episodio entiendo que mi progreso depende de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos.

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Questions & Answers about Con cada episodio entiendo que mi progreso depende de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos.

Why is it "con cada episodio" and not "en cada episodio"?

Both are grammatically possible, but they emphasize different ideas:

  • Con cada episodio = with each episode / as each episode passes.

    • Focus: each episode contributes something; there is a sense of accumulation or accompaniment.
    • Rough idea: With every new episode, I (gradually) understand…
  • En cada episodio = in each episode.

    • Focus: what happens inside each episode, like a location in time or content.
    • Rough idea: In every episode, I understand… (as if every single episode, considered on its own, makes you understand this).

In this sentence, con sounds more natural because the idea is progress over time, episode after episode, not what happens inside any single episode.

Can I say "Entiendo con cada episodio que mi progreso…" instead of "Con cada episodio entiendo que…"? Does the word order change the meaning?

Yes, "Entiendo con cada episodio que…" is grammatically correct, and the meaning is essentially the same.

The difference is very subtle and mostly about focus:

  • Con cada episodio entiendo que…

    • Starts with the phrase of time/condition.
    • Emphasis: the episodes, and how each one contributes to your understanding.
    • Very natural when continuing a story: I’m watching this series, and with each episode I realize…
  • Entiendo con cada episodio que…

    • Starts with the verb entiendo.
    • Slightly more focus on the act of understanding.

Both are fine; starting with Con cada episodio is stylistically more common in this kind of reflective sentence.

Why do we need "que" after "entiendo"? Could I say "entiendo mi progreso depende…" without "que"?

You need que here. In Spanish:

  • Entender que + clause is the normal way to say to understand that…
    • Entiendo que mi progreso depende… = I understand that my progress depends…

Without que, entiendo mi progreso depende… sounds ungrammatical or very strange.
So the pattern you should remember is:

  • entender que + [sentence]
    • Entiendo que esto es importante.
    • Entendemos que no puedes venir.
Why is it "mi progreso" and not "el progreso" or just "progreso"?

All three forms can exist in Spanish, but they don’t mean exactly the same:

  • mi progreso = my progress

    • Emphasizes that it’s specifically your personal progress.
  • el progreso = the progress

    • More general/impersonal. Could mean the progress in a course, in the project, etc., not clearly tied to you.
  • progreso with no article or possessive is possible in some contexts, but here it would sound incomplete:

    • Entiendo que progreso depende de mi esfuerzo… would be wrong.

In this sentence, you’re clearly talking about your own learning, so mi progreso is the natural, clear choice.

Why is it "depende de" and not "depende en" or just "depende"?

In Spanish, the verb depender almost always goes with the preposition de:

  • depender de algo / alguien = to depend on something / someone

Examples:

  • Todo depende de ti. – Everything depends on you.
  • Mi trabajo depende de este contrato. – My job depends on this contract.

So, in your sentence, depende de mi esfuerzo is the only correct option.
Depende en is not used in this meaning, and just depende mi esfuerzo would be ungrammatical.

Why do we say "de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos" instead of just "de mi esfuerzo y mis hábitos"?

Both are grammatically correct:

  • …depende de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos.
  • …depende de mi esfuerzo y mis hábitos.

Repeating de before mis hábitos:

  • Makes the sentence more balanced and clear when spoken.
  • Sounds a bit more careful or formal.

Leaving out the second de:

  • Is shorter and more colloquial.
  • Is completely normal in everyday speech.

In careful or written Spanish, repeating de is very common, especially in a sentence like this where you want clarity and rhythm.

Do I need to repeat "mi" in "mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos"? Could I say "mi esfuerzo y de hábitos"?

You should not drop mis here. Compare:

  • de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos
  • de mi esfuerzo y de hábitos ❌ (sounds wrong or incomplete)

In Spanish, when the possessive is clearly shared, you can sometimes omit it in the second item:

  • mi casa y mi cochemi casa y coche

But with prepositions (like de) and when the noun is less obviously yours, it’s much more natural to repeat it:

  • de mi esfuerzo y de mis hábitos (clear and natural)
  • de mi esfuerzo y de hábitos sounds like effort that is mine, and some habits (not clearly mine).

So: keep mis in this sentence.

Why is the verb in the simple present "entiendo" and not something like "voy entendiendo" or "he entendido"?

All three exist, but they emphasize different things:

  • Entiendo que… (simple present)

    • Neutral, general statement.
    • Means you now understand this fact; it’s your current understanding.
  • Voy entendiendo que…

    • Literally: I’m gradually understanding that…
    • Emphasizes a process over time, gradual realization.
    • Very natural if you want to stress that your understanding is still developing.
  • He entendido que…

    • I have realized / I have come to understand that…
    • Focus on the result of a process that has just happened or has relevance now.

In your sentence, Entiendo… states a general conclusion you draw from your experience with the episodes. Voy entendiendo… would also fit well if you want to highlight that it’s a slow realization.

Could I say "depende en mi esfuerzo" as a direct translation of depends on my effort?

No. Even though English uses on, Spanish uses de:

  • depender de = to depend on
    • depende de mi esfuerzo
    • depende en mi esfuerzo

This is one of those verb + preposition combinations you just have to memorize:

  • pensar en – to think about
  • soñar con – to dream about
  • contar con – to count on
  • depender de – to depend on
Is there any difference between "entiendo" and "comprendo" here? Could I say "Con cada episodio comprendo que…"?

You can say either:

  • Con cada episodio entiendo que…
  • Con cada episodio comprendo que…

In modern everyday Spanish (including Latin America), entender is more common and neutral in most contexts. Comprender can feel:

  • Slightly more formal or literary, or
  • Slightly deeper, as in to truly grasp / fully understand (though this is subtle and not always felt strongly).

In this specific sentence, both work and the difference is minimal. Entiendo is the more typical, natural choice in conversational style.

Does "episodio" only mean a TV episode, or can it be used more generally?

Episodio in Spanish:

  • Very often refers to episodes of a series, podcast, etc. (same as English).
  • Can also be used more generally, for example:
    • un episodio de mi vida – an episode/period of my life
    • un episodio de violencia – an episode/outburst of violence

In your sentence, context will tell whether we’re talking about a TV series, podcast, course, etc. Grammatically it’s the same.

Why "mis hábitos" in plural? Could it be "mi hábito" instead?

You could say mi hábito, but it would change the nuance:

  • mis hábitos (plural)

    • Suggests your whole set of routines/behaviors: study habits, sleep, practice, consistency, etc.
    • Much more natural when talking about personal development or learning.
  • mi hábito (singular)

    • Sounds like one specific habit.
    • You’d usually name it: mi hábito de estudiar cada mañana, etc.

Because learning progress usually depends on several habits (study frequency, practice, review, etc.), mis hábitos in plural is the most natural and general way to say it.