Mis amigos quieren tomar té en la cafetería.

to want

Breakdown of Mis amigos quieren tomar té en la cafetería.

• en: at
• mis: my
• el té: the tea
• la cafetería: the café
• tomar: to have

Questions & Answers about Mis amigos quieren tomar té en la cafetería.

Why do we use tomar instead of beber in this sentence?

In Spanish, tomar is a very common verb meaning “to take” or “to have” something (especially a drink or meal). While beber also means “to drink,” tomar is frequently used in everyday Spanish to talk about having tea, coffee, or even a meal, so it sounds perfectly natural here.

Is there a difference between en la cafetería and en el café?

En la cafetería specifically points to “the cafeteria,” which could be a place in a school, workplace, or anywhere that’s referred to as a cafeteria. En el café would mean “at the café,” implying a coffee shop or small restaurant. Both are correct but might refer to slightly different types of locations.

Why is it Mis amigos quieren and not Mis amigos quieren a or Mis amigos quieren de?

In Spanish, when one verb follows another, generally you don’t use an extra preposition if the second verb is in the infinitive form. You simply say quieren tomar. Adding a or de would be incorrect in this context.

What’s the difference between té (with an accent) and te (without an accent)?

Té (with an accent) means “tea,” the drink. Te (without an accent) is a pronoun that means “you” (object form), as in te quiero (“I love you”). They are pronounced the same way but have different meanings and spellings.

Could I say Mis amigos desean tomar té instead of quieren tomar té?

Yes, desean also means “they want” or “they wish.” However, quieren is more common and direct in everyday speech, while desean might sound a bit more formal or polite. Both forms are correct.