Mi objetivo principal es descansar con mi familia.

Breakdown of Mi objetivo principal es descansar con mi familia.

ser
to be
con
with
mi
my
la familia
the family
descansar
to rest
principal
main
el objetivo
the goal
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Questions & Answers about Mi objetivo principal es descansar con mi familia.

Why does principal come after objetivo here? In English we say main goal, not goal main.

In Spanish, most adjectives normally go after the noun, so objetivo principal is the default, neutral order.

With this adjective you have two correct options:

  • Mi objetivo principal (more neutral, very common)
  • Mi principal objetivo (puts a bit more emphasis on principal, a bit more formal or rhetorical)

Both are fine in Latin American Spanish. The version in the sentence is simply the most standard-sounding one.

Could I say Mi principal objetivo es descansar con mi familia instead? Does it change the meaning?

Yes, you can say Mi principal objetivo es descansar con mi familia, and it is correct.

The meaning is basically the same. The difference is very subtle:

  • Mi objetivo principal… feels like neutral information.
  • Mi principal objetivo… slightly highlights that this is the most important of several objectives.

In everyday conversation, people will usually not feel any big difference between the two.

Why is there no article before mi objetivo principal? Why not el mi objetivo principal or el objetivo principal?

In Spanish, you normally do not combine a definite article (el, la, los, las) with a possessive adjective (mi, tu, su, etc.) in front of the same noun.

So you say:

  • mi objetivo (my goal)
  • el objetivo (the goal)

…but not el mi objetivo in standard speech.

If you want to say the main goal, without saying whose goal it is, you would use:

  • El objetivo principal es descansar con mi familia.
Why is es followed by the infinitive descansar? Why not something like es descanso?

In Spanish, an infinitive can function like a noun, especially after ser.

So:

  • Mi objetivo principal es descansar…
    = My main goal is to rest… / My main goal is resting…

You could say es el descanso, but that sounds more like “is rest (as a concept)” and is less natural in this specific sentence. The infinitive descansar is the most natural and common way to express “to rest / resting” as an activity you want to do.

Should there be a preposition between es and descansar, like es de descansar or es para descansar?

No preposition is needed here. Es descansar is the normal structure in this type of sentence.

Compare:

  • Mi objetivo principal es descansar.
    → My main goal is to rest.

Es de + infinitivo and es para + infinitivo are different structures:

  • Este lugar es para descansar. → This place is for resting. (expressing purpose of the place)
  • No es de descansar mucho. → He/She is not someone who rests much. (colloquial, describing a characteristic)

Those do not fit your original sentence as a direct replacement.

Why is it descansar and not reflexive like descansarme?

The verb descansar is normally not reflexive when it means “to rest.” You simply say:

  • Quiero descansar. → I want to rest.
  • Necesito descansar con mi familia. → I need to rest with my family.

There is a reflexive form descansarse used in some regions, but:

  • It’s less common and more colloquial.
  • In many contexts it doesn’t add any real meaning; it can sound regional or unnecessary.

In neutral Latin American Spanish, descansar (non‑reflexive) is what you should use here.

Could I use relajarme instead of descansar, like Mi objetivo principal es relajarme con mi familia?

Yes, Mi objetivo principal es relajarme con mi familia is correct, but the nuance changes slightly:

  • descansar = to rest, take a break, not work, recover energy (can include sleeping, doing nothing, quiet time).
  • relajarme = to relax, unwind, stop feeling stressed or tense (more about emotional/mental state).

If your focus is on taking time off from work or obligations, descansar fits better.
If your focus is on feeling relaxed and stress‑free, relajarme sounds more natural.

What is the difference between objetivo, meta, and propósito? Could I say Mi meta principal or Mi propósito principal?

All three can be used, but they have slightly different flavors:

  • objetivo – neutral goal/objective, very common in both everyday and professional contexts.
  • meta – often used for goals you reach after effort (sports, self‑improvement, long‑term plans).
  • propósitopurpose/intention, can sound a bit more formal or introspective.

You can say:

  • Mi meta principal es descansar con mi familia.
  • Mi propósito principal es descansar con mi familia.

They are both correct; objetivo is just the most neutral and widely used word here.

Why is it mi familia and not mis familia? In English we say my family, but “family” refers to several people.

In Spanish, the possessive (mi, mis, tu, tus, etc.) agrees with the grammar number of the noun, not with how many people it represents.

  • familia is grammatically singular, so you use mi familia.
  • familias is plural, so it would be mis familias.

Even though a family includes many people, grammatically it is treated as a single unit:

  • Mi familia es grande. (not son grande)
Can I say con la familia or en familia instead of con mi familia?

Yes, but the nuance changes:

  • con mi familia → clearly “with my family.”
  • con la familia → often “with the family,” which can mean my family if context is clear, or “with the family” as a known group. It sounds a bit more general or colloquial.
  • en familia → literally “as a family / in a family setting.”
    • Mi objetivo principal es descansar en familia.
      → My main goal is to rest as a family / spend quiet family time.

All are correct; con mi familia is the clearest if you want to explicitly say “with my family.”

When Spanish speakers say familia, does it usually mean just parents and children, or also uncles, cousins, etc.?

Familia is flexible and depends on context. It can mean:

  • Nuclear family (parents, children): Voy a viajar con mi familia.
  • Nuclear + some close relatives: Toda mi familia viene a la fiesta.
  • In some cases, the extended family in general.

If you need to be specific, you can add words:

  • mi familia cercana (immediate/close family)
  • mi familia extendida (extended family)
Can I move parts of the sentence around, like Descansar con mi familia es mi objetivo principal?

Yes. Spanish allows some flexibility in word order. All of these are correct, with slightly different emphasis:

  • Mi objetivo principal es descansar con mi familia. (neutral, very natural)
  • Descansar con mi familia es mi objetivo principal. (emphasizes the activity of resting with family)

Both mean the same overall thing. The original version is the most typical way to state your main goal.