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Espero que el micrófono funcione bien en el auditorio mañana.

Espero que el micrófono funcione bien en el auditorio mañana.
I hope the microphone works well in the auditorium tomorrow.
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Questions & Answers about Espero que el micrófono funcione bien en el auditorio mañana.

Why is it funcione and not funciona?

Because Espero que... expresses a hope/wish, which triggers the present subjunctive in Spanish. The verb funcionar becomes funcione in the yo/él/ella/usted form of the present subjunctive:

  • (Indicative) funciona = it works (stating a fact)
  • (Subjunctive) funcione = (I hope) it works (not presented as a fact)
If it’s happening tomorrow, why isn’t Spanish using a future tense like funcionará?

After Espero que, Spanish normally uses the present subjunctive even when the action is in the future. Time words like mañana already show the future timeframe:

  • Espero que funcione mañana = I hope it works tomorrow
    Using funcionará would change the structure (no longer dependent on Espero que) and would sound like a prediction/statement, not a hope.
What exactly does Espero que mean here? Is it always I hope that?

In this structure, Espero que + subjunctive means I hope that... or I’m hoping that....
On its own, Espero... can also mean I wait... in other contexts (like Espero el autobús = I’m waiting for the bus), but Espero que is clearly the “hope” construction.

Why is que necessary? Can I say Espero el micrófono funcione...?

You need que because Spanish uses Espero que + clause to connect what you hope with a full sentence.
Espero el micrófono funcione... is not grammatical. Correct options include:

  • Espero que el micrófono funcione...
  • Espero que funcione el micrófono... (less neutral word order)
What tense and mood is funcione?

Funcione is present subjunctive (third person singular / usted-form). It comes from:

  • infinitive: funcionar
  • subjunctive stem: funcion-
  • ending: -e (for -ar verbs)
Why does Spanish use el micrófono instead of just micrófono?

Spanish normally uses a definite article (el/la/los/las) with specific, known things more often than English does. Here it’s a specific microphone (the one to be used tomorrow), so el micrófono is natural.

Does bien mean well or good here? Why not bueno?

Here bien means well (describing how it functions). Bueno is an adjective meaning good, used to describe a noun:

  • funcione bien = works well (adverb)
  • un micrófono bueno = a good microphone (adjective)
Does en el auditorio mean the microphone is located there, or that it should work well there?

It can be understood as “work well in the auditorium,” i.e., in that setting/location. In context, it implies you’re concerned about how it performs there (sound, equipment, setup). If you wanted to emphasize “there (not elsewhere),” you might add emphasis:

  • ...funcione bien en el auditorio (y no en otro lugar)
Is auditorio the same as auditorium in English?

Mostly yes. Auditorio typically refers to an auditorium: a large hall for talks, concerts, presentations, etc. In some places it can also refer to a lecture hall or venue hall depending on context.

Does mañana mean tomorrow or morning here?

Here it means tomorrow, because it’s used as a standalone time word at the end of the sentence.
mañana can mean morning when used with an article or a clearer time expression, for example:

  • por la mañana = in the morning
  • esta mañana = this morning
Can I move mañana earlier in the sentence?

Yes. Spanish is flexible with time expressions. These are all natural, with slightly different emphasis:

  • Espero que el micrófono funcione bien en el auditorio mañana. (neutral)
  • Espero que mañana el micrófono funcione bien en el auditorio. (emphasizes tomorrow)
  • Espero que el micrófono funcione bien mañana en el auditorio. (emphasizes tomorrow a bit more)
What’s the pronunciation/role of the accent in micrófono?

The accent mark shows the stressed syllable: mi-CRÓ-fo-no.
Without the accent, Spanish stress rules would place stress differently, so the accent is required for correct pronunciation and spelling.

Could I say Espero que el micrófono esté bien instead of funcione bien?

You can, but it changes the meaning slightly:

  • funcione bien = that it functions/works well (performance)
  • esté bien = that it’s okay / in good condition (state/condition)
    For equipment, funcione bien is usually the best match when you mean “works properly.”