Comparamos la copia autorizada con la copia simple.

It can mean either one.

In Spanish, comparamos is the 1st person plural form of comparar, and this spelling is used for both:

• present: we compare
• preterite: we compared

So the sentence could mean either, depending on context.

For example:

• Ahora comparamos la copia autorizada con la copia simple. = Now we compare...
• Ayer comparamos la copia autorizada con la copia simple. = Yesterday we compared...

Spanish often relies on context or time words to make this clear.

Because Spanish usually leaves subject pronouns out when they are not needed.

The verb form comparamos already tells you the subject is we. So nosotros is normally unnecessary.

• Comparamos la copia autorizada... = normal
• Nosotros comparamos la copia autorizada... = possible, but more emphatic

You would add nosotros only if you want contrast or emphasis, for example:

• Nosotros comparamos la copia autorizada, no ellos.
  = We compared the authorised copy, not them.

Because in Spanish, comparar is commonly followed by con when you are saying that one thing is compared with another.

So:

• comparar algo con algo = to compare something with/to something

In your sentence:

• Comparamos la copia autorizada con la copia simple.

That structure is completely standard.

You may also see comparar A y B, especially when both items are simply listed together:

• Comparamos la copia autorizada y la copia simple.

But comparar ... con ... is very common and often feels especially clear.

Because each noun phrase needs its own article.

Spanish normally repeats the article when talking about two separate specific things:

• la copia autorizada
• la copia simple

So the full structure is:

• Comparamos [la copia autorizada] con [la copia simple].

In English, article repetition can sometimes be less noticeable, but in Spanish this repetition is very natural and expected.

Because in Spanish, adjectives usually come after the noun.

So:

• copia autorizada = authorised copy
• copia simple = simple copy

This noun + adjective order is the normal pattern in Spanish.

Putting the adjective before the noun is sometimes possible, but it often changes the tone, emphasis, or meaning. In a legal or factual phrase like this, the normal order is definitely copia autorizada.

Because it agrees with copia, which is a feminine singular noun.

In Spanish, many adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

• copia = feminine singular
• autorizada = feminine singular form of autorizado

Compare:

• el documento autorizado = masculine singular
• la copia autorizada = feminine singular
• las copias autorizadas = feminine plural

This is a very important feature of Spanish grammar.

Because not all adjectives change form for gender.

Some adjectives have different masculine and feminine forms:

• autorizado / autorizada

But others have the same form for both masculine and feminine in the singular:

• simple
• interesante
• útil

So:

• el documento simple
• la copia simple

Both are correct. The adjective still agrees in number, though:

• la copia simple
• las copias simples

In Spain, copia autorizada is a formal legal term, especially in notarial contexts.

It usually refers to an official authorised copy issued by a notary, with full legal validity. By contrast, a copia simple is generally a less formal copy, often for information purposes and not always with the same legal force.

So even if you already know the general meaning, it helps to know that this is not just everyday vocabulary: it belongs to administrative/legal Spanish.

Because la refers to a specific copy, while una would mean a/an and sound less specific.

• la copia autorizada = the authorised copy
• una copia autorizada = an authorised copy

Your sentence sounds like the speaker has two particular documents in mind and is comparing those specific versions.

The given word order is the most neutral and natural one:

• Comparamos la copia autorizada con la copia simple.

Spanish word order is somewhat flexible, but changes usually add emphasis or sound more marked.

For example:

• La copia autorizada la comparamos con la copia simple.
  This puts extra focus on la copia autorizada.

• Con la copia simple comparamos la copia autorizada.
  This is grammatical, but less neutral and more stylistically marked.

For a normal statement, the original sentence is the best choice.

Comparamos is pronounced roughly kohm-pah-RAH-mohs.

There is no written accent because, by Spanish stress rules, a word ending in -s is normally stressed on the second-to-last syllable, and that is exactly what happens here:

• co-mpa-RA-mos

So no accent mark is needed.

This is also why the form looks the same for we compare and we compared: the difference is grammatical, not spelling-based. Context tells you which one is meant.