Necesito terminar mi informe antes de la cena.

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Breakdown of Necesito terminar mi informe antes de la cena.

• mi: my
• necesitar: to need
• antes de: before
• terminar: to finish
• la cena: the dinner
• el informe: the report

Questions & Answers about Necesito terminar mi informe antes de la cena.

Why does the sentence use Necesito instead of a different verb like Tengo que?

Both Necesito and Tengo que can express obligation or necessity. Necesito (literally “I need”) has a more personal nuance, emphasizing your own need, while Tengo que (literally “I have to”) focuses more on an external requirement or duty.

What is the role of antes de in the phrase antes de la cena?

Antes de indicates “before” in a time sense. It must be followed by a noun or an infinitive (e.g., antes de comer). By contrast, if you just say antes, you usually need another element explaining “before what,” such as antes que llegues (“before you arrive”).

Why is la cena used with the definite article la?

In Spanish, mealtimes (el desayuno, la comida, la cena) often require the definite article. Saying antes de cena without la would sound incomplete or unnatural in Spanish from Spain.

Is there any difference between informe and reporte?

In Spain, informe is more commonly used for a formal document or report, while reporte is heard more often in Latin American Spanish. Both words are understood, but informe is the preferred term in Spain.

Could I say Debo terminar mi informe instead of Necesito terminar mi informe?

Yes, you can. Debo (from deber) also indicates an obligation, but it sounds slightly stronger and more formal, like saying I must in English, as opposed to I need to.