Learn Hardcore Spanish (Spain): El tiempo en verano es perfecto para descansar en la playa. - The weather in summer is perfect for resting on the beach.

In Spanish, el tiempo can mean both time and weather. The context makes it clear which sense is intended. When someone says el tiempo está muy frío, it refers to the weather being cold rather than time.

Why do we say en verano instead of en el verano?

In Spanish, seasons can often appear without a definite article when used after en. It’s perfectly correct to say en verano (in summer), en invierno (in winter), etc. Some varieties of Spanish might use the article, but in general usage (especially in Spain) it’s common to omit it.

Why is para descansar used instead of por descansar or another structure?

Para is typically used to express purpose or goal. Here, para descansar means “in order to rest.” If you used por, it would imply a cause or reason, which doesn’t fit well with the idea of a purpose here.

Why is the infinitive descansar used instead of a conjugated form like descanso?

In Spanish, when discussing the purpose of something (what it is perfect for doing), you generally use the infinitive form. So you say es perfecto para descansar rather than using a conjugated verb.

Does descansar have a different meaning from relajarse?

While descansar and relajarse can sometimes be used interchangeably, descansar focuses more on resting (like taking a break), whereas relajarse means to relax (implying a reduction of stress or tension). In everyday conversation, both communicate a similar idea of unwinding.