Mi documento indica que tengo quince años.

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Breakdown of Mi documento indica que tengo quince años.

• tener: to have
• mi: my
• que: that
• el año: the year
• quince: fifteen
• el documento: the document
• indicar: to indicate

Questions & Answers about Mi documento indica que tengo quince años.

Why do we say "tengo quince años" instead of "soy quince años"?

In Spanish, age is expressed with the verb tener ("to have"). So, you say:
• Tengo quince años: literally “I have fifteen years.”
It sounds more natural and is grammatically correct in Spanish. While in English you say “I am fifteen,” Spanish uses tener to talk about age.

Why is the verb "indica" used rather than something like "dice"?

Indicar means “to indicate” or “to show,” and sometimes it can be a bit more formal or specific, emphasizing that the document provides official information. You can still say Mi documento dice (“My document says”), but indica suggests a more official or declarative tone.

Does "que" always appear after verbs like "indica"?

Often, yes. In many sentences, especially when the verb introduces reported information or content, que is used in Spanish as a conjunction. Examples include:
• Él dijo que vendría.
• El informe señala que hay un problema.
It’s similar to using “that” in English, though in Spanish the use of que can be more consistent and mandatory than “that” in English.

Why do we say "mi documento" instead of something like "el documento"?

Using mi (my) clarifies the ownership. If it’s the learner’s own ID or birth certificate, it’s natural to say mi documento. Saying el documento would be more generic, referring to “the document” without specifying whose document it is.

Is there any difference if I want to use "papel" or "identificación" instead of "documento"?

Yes. In Spanish (especially in Spain), documento is a broad term for official papers. Papel is more generic, usually meaning "paper" or "a piece of paper" and is less formal. Identificación would work if you're specifically talking about ID. Documento is the most neutral word that would typically cover anything from a birth certificate to an ID card.