Breakdown of La profesora quiere ayudar a su estudiante.
querer
to want
el estudiante
the student
ayudar
to help
a
to
su
her
la profesora
the teacher
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Questions & Answers about La profesora quiere ayudar a su estudiante.
Why is there an a before su estudiante?
In Spanish, when the direct object is a person (or sometimes a pet), we use the “a personal” (the personal a). It doesn’t translate directly into English, but it’s mandatory in Spanish to denote that we are talking about a specific person as the direct object.
Does su mean “her,” “his,” or something else?
Su is a possessive adjective that can mean “his,” “her,” “its,” or “their,” and also “your” in formal situations (usted/ustedes). In this sentence, the context is that the teacher is female, so we often interpret su as “her.” However, strictly speaking, it can also be “his” if a male teacher is implied, or “their” if referring to plural owners.
What tense is quiere?
Quiere is the third-person singular (él / ella / usted) present indicative form of querer (to want). It matches la profesora (she), who wants to help the student.
Why is 'profesora' used instead of 'profesor'?
In Spanish, nouns referring to people usually reflect the gender of the person. Profesora is the feminine form (for a female teacher), while profesor is the masculine form (for a male teacher).
Can I omit the word a in ayudar a su estudiante?
No. In Spanish you must keep the personal a before a direct object that is a person. Omitting it would be incorrect.
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