Cuando la profesora hace una pregunta difícil, a veces necesito unos segundos para comprender.

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Breakdown of Cuando la profesora hace una pregunta difícil, a veces necesito unos segundos para comprender.

• una: a
• para: to
• hacer: to make
• a veces: sometimes
• cuando: when
• difícil: difficult
• necesitar: to need
• la profesora: the teacher
• la pregunta: the question
• unos: some
• el segundo: the second
• comprender: to understand

Questions & Answers about Cuando la profesora hace una pregunta difícil, a veces necesito unos segundos para comprender.

Why is it "la profesora" and not "el profesor"?

Because profesora is the feminine form meaning "female teacher," while profesor is masculine for "male teacher." In Spanish, nouns related to professions often have both masculine and feminine forms.

Why do we use the indicative verb "hace" instead of using a subjunctive form like "haga"?

The indicative (hace) is used here because the sentence talks about a habitual or repeated action in the present. The subjunctive might be used if the event were hypothetical or referring to the future in a dependent clause, but here it’s describing something that regularly happens, so the indicative is appropriate.

Why is the adjective placed after the noun in "una pregunta difícil" instead of saying "una difícil pregunta"?

In Spanish, the typical pattern for descriptive adjectives is "noun + adjective." Saying una pregunta difícil is more natural and common. While you might occasionally place an adjective before the noun for emphasis, the standard position is after.

Could we also say "algunas veces" instead of "a veces"?

Yes, algunas veces also means "sometimes," but a veces is very common in everyday speech. Both forms are correct and interchangeable, although a veces sounds a bit more natural in many contexts.

What's the difference between using "comprender" and "entender"?

In many contexts, comprender and entender are interchangeable. Comprender can imply a deeper or more complete understanding, while entender is often more straightforward or colloquial. However, in everyday usage, most Spanish speakers will alternate between the two without a big distinction.