La máquina moderna funciona bien.

well

Breakdown of La máquina moderna funciona bien.

• moderno: modern
• la máquina: the machine
• funcionar: to work

Questions & Answers about La máquina moderna funciona bien.

Why is máquina considered a feminine noun even though it ends with an -a?

In Spanish, most words ending in -a are feminine nouns, though there are exceptions. Máquina is a feminine noun, so it requires the use of the feminine article la and any adjectives describing it must be in the feminine form (e.g., moderna instead of moderno).

Why does moderna come after máquina?

In Spanish, adjectives can go before or after the noun. However, many adjectives—especially those describing inherent qualities—are most commonly placed after the noun. Saying la máquina moderna places emphasis on modern as one of its descriptive traits, and this word order sounds natural in Spanish.

Why do we use funciona and not funcionar?

Funcionar is the infinitive form of the verb (“to function” or “to work”). In a sentence, we need to conjugate it. Since we have a third-person singular subject (la máquina), we use the present indicative form funciona (“it works”).

Is there a difference between using funciona and trabaja when talking about a machine?

Yes. Funciona focuses on whether the machine is operating correctly (it’s functioning properly), whereas trabaja typically refers to someone performing a job or working like a person. For machines, funciona is almost always the more appropriate choice in Spanish.

What is the difference between bien and bueno in this sentence?

Bien generally acts as an adverb meaning “well.” It describes how something functions or is done. Bueno is an adjective meaning “good.” If you want to say the machine is good, you’d use the adjective buena (in the feminine form to match máquina)—but since the sentence focuses on how the machine works, bien is the correct choice here.