Aprender el idioma mejora el conocimiento.

to learn

Breakdown of Aprender el idioma mejora el conocimiento.

• mejorar: to improve
• el conocimiento: the knowledge
• el idioma: the language

Questions & Answers about Aprender el idioma mejora el conocimiento.

Why is the infinitive aprender used at the beginning of the sentence instead of a conjugated verb?

In Spanish, using the infinitive aprender functions like using “learning” in English. It refers to the general action or concept of learning, rather than distinguishing who is performing it or when it’s happening. It’s a more abstract way of expressing an idea (similar to "Learning the language improves knowledge" in English).

Why does the sentence use el idioma (the language) instead of un idioma (a language)?

Using el (the) can suggest you’re talking about a specific language in mind or that the idea of “language” itself is a known concept in context. If you said un idioma, it would mean any language in general. Here, el idioma makes the sentence sound more definite and focused, like a particular language or the concept of “the language” as a whole.

Why is mejora in the third-person singular form?

Because we’re connecting the noun phrase aprender el idioma (treated as a singular, general action) to the verb mejorar. That whole phrase acts like a singular subject, so the verb uses mejora. In English, we might say "improves" to match the singular subject "learning the language."

Could we say Aprender el idioma mejora el conocimiento de uno instead of just mejora el conocimiento?

Yes, adding de uno (of one’s own) or personal after conocimiento makes it more explicit that it’s about an individual’s knowledge. However, el conocimiento by itself is completely acceptable, as it can refer to knowledge in a broader, more universal sense.

Is there a difference between el idioma and la lengua in this context?

In most contexts, el idioma and la lengua are interchangeable when referring to a language. Idioma is typically more formal, whereas lengua can sometimes be associated with the concept of speech itself (though they often mean the same thing). In Spain, both words are used widely and understood without confusion.