A veces me equivoco al hornear pan, pero eso me enseña a mejorar la próxima vez.

I

Breakdown of A veces me equivoco al hornear pan, pero eso me enseña a mejorar la próxima vez.

• el pan: the bread
• la: the
• me: me
• a veces: sometimes
• pero: but
• a: to
• hornear: to bake
• enseñar: to teach
• equivocarse: to make a mistake
• eso: that
• mejorar: to improve
• próximo: next
• vez: the time

Questions & Answers about A veces me equivoco al hornear pan, pero eso me enseña a mejorar la próxima vez.

Why do we say me equivoco instead of something like cometo un error or just equivoco?

• Equivocarse is a pronominal verb in Spanish, so we need the reflexive pronoun me to indicate I make a mistake.
• Meanwhile, cometer un error is also grammatically correct but slightly more formal or direct.
• Just equivoco without me isn’t a valid form here, since the verb requires the reflexive pronoun to show who is making the mistake.

What is the function of al in al hornear pan?

• Al + infinitive is used in Spanish to convey the idea of when (doing something).
• So al hornear pan literally means when baking bread or upon baking bread.
• This construction is common and more concise than saying cuando horneo pan.

Why do we use me enseña a mejorar instead of me enseña mejorar?

• In Spanish, the verb enseñar (to teach) is typically followed by a + infinitive when indicating what someone is being taught to do.
• Hence, you say enseñarme a cocinar, enseñarme a bailar, or enseñarme a mejorar, always including the preposition a.

Is there a difference between using la próxima vez and la siguiente vez?

• Both refer to the next time, but la próxima vez is the more common everyday expression.
• La siguiente vez is also correct but slightly less frequent in casual conversation.
• In most contexts, la próxima vez will sound more natural.