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Questions & Answers about Quiero tomar un té caliente.
Why do we use tomar instead of beber in this sentence?
In Spanish, tomar can mean "to drink" or "to take," while beber is used more strictly for drinking. Tomar is very common in everyday speech—saying Quiero tomar un té caliente sounds natural and idiomatic.
Why is the word un used before té caliente?
Spanish grammar generally requires an article before a noun. Un is the masculine indefinite article, meaning "a" or "one," and té is a masculine noun. This article also helps convey that you want "a hot tea," not something more specific.
What role does quiero play in this sentence?
Quiero is the first person present tense of the verb querer, meaning "I want." It indicates a direct desire or wish. If you wanted to be more polite, you might say quisiera, which sounds more like "I would like."
Do I need to include tomar? Could I just say Quiero un té caliente?
Yes, you can say Quiero un té caliente and it would still make sense. However, quiero tomar un té caliente emphasizes the action of having or consuming the tea, which is why it's commonly used in everyday Spanish.
Why is there an accent on té?
The word té (with an accent) means “tea.” Without the accent (te), it’s a pronoun meaning “you” (object form). The accent is important to distinguish between these two completely different meanings.
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