A veces comemos en la cocina y no en la sala.

Sometimes we eat in the kitchen and not in the living room.

Breakdown of A veces comemos en la cocina y no en la sala.

• en: in
• nosotros: we
• comer: to eat
• y: and
• a veces: sometimes
• la sala: the living room
• no: not
• la cocina: the cooking

Questions & Answers about A veces comemos en la cocina y no en la sala.

What does A veces mean, and why is veces plural instead of singular vez?

A veces means sometimes. Literally, it is at times or on occasions, which is why veces (times) is plural.

• una vez = one time / once
• muchas veces = many times
• a veces = at times → sometimes

In this fixed expression about frequency, Spanish almost always uses the plural veces.

Why is the verb comemos and not comer?

Comemos is the present tense form for we eat (first person plural) of comer.

• comer = to eat (infinitive)
• como = I eat
• comes = you eat (tú)
• come = he/she/you (usted) eat(s)
• comemos = we eat
• comen = they / you all eat

In this sentence, the subject is we, so you need comemos, not the infinitive comer.

Where is nosotros? Why can you say comemos without the subject pronoun?

In Spanish, subject pronouns (like yo, tú, nosotros) are often omitted because the verb ending already shows who is doing the action.

• comemos can only mean we eat.
• Adding nosotros (→ A veces nosotros comemos…) is possible, but usually only for emphasis or contrast.

So the sentence is perfectly natural without nosotros.

Can I put a veces in another place, like Comemos a veces en la cocina?

Yes, but the most natural place is usually at the beginning or right before the verb:

• A veces comemos en la cocina.
• Comemos a veces en la cocina. (possible, a bit less common)
• Comemos en la cocina a veces. (also possible, sounds more like adding it as an afterthought)

All are understandable, but starting with A veces is very typical and clear.

Why is it en la cocina and not a la cocina?

En is used for location (in, at, on), and a is used mainly for movement (to, toward).

• comemos en la cocina = we eat in/at the kitchen (location)
• vamos a la cocina = we go to the kitchen (movement)

Since the sentence talks about where the eating happens (a place, not a direction), en is correct.

Why do we say en la cocina and en la sala, not just en cocina and en sala?

In Spanish, when talking about rooms as specific places where actions happen, you normally use the definite article la (or el):

• en la cocina = in the kitchen
• en la sala = in the living room
• en el comedor = in the dining room

Leaving out the article (en cocina) is unusual in this everyday context and can sound incomplete or only correct in some very specific professional or shorthand contexts (for example, in restaurant slang).

What does sala mean here? Is it always living room in Latin America?

In this context, la sala is the room where people relax or receive visitors, usually the living room or lounge.

In Latin America:

• la sala commonly means living room.
• Some places also say sala de estar or salón, but sala alone is very common.
• In some countries you may also hear el living (an anglicism), but la sala is more standard.

Why is it y no en la sala instead of pero no en la sala?

Both could appear in similar contexts, but they are slightly different:

• …en la cocina y no en la sala.

  • Just links two options and denies the second.
  • Neutral: sometimes we eat in the kitchen and not in the living room.

• …en la cocina, pero no en la sala.

  • Adds a bit more contrast or correction, like but not in the living room.
  • Sounds a bit more like you’re opposing or correcting an expectation.

In this simple factual statement, y no is perfectly natural and common.

Could the negative go earlier, like A veces no comemos en la sala? Does that change the meaning?

Yes, you can say:

• A veces no comemos en la sala, sino en la cocina.

This usually means: Sometimes we *do not eat in the living room; instead, we eat in the kitchen.*

The original sentence:

• A veces comemos en la cocina y no en la sala.

focuses first on eating in the kitchen, then adds not in the living room as a contrast.
The version with A veces no comemos en la sala… focuses more on not eating in the living room. The overall idea is similar, but the emphasis shifts.

Is A veces the same as a menudo or frecuentemente?

They are all frequency expressions but with different strengths:

• A veces = sometimes, on some occasions (irregular / not very often)
• A menudo = often, frequently (more regular or more common)
• Frecuentemente = frequently (quite formal-sounding in everyday speech)

So A veces comemos en la cocina… suggests it happens occasionally, not regularly.