Es una costumbre en mi familia leer el periódico mientras desayunamos.

It is a custom in my family to read the newspaper while we have breakfast.

Breakdown of Es una costumbre en mi familia leer el periódico mientras desayunamos.

• la familia: the family
• en: in
• leer: to read
• mi: my
• nosotros: we
• desayunar: to have breakfast
• la costumbre: the custom
• el periódico: the newspaper
• mientras: while

Questions & Answers about Es una costumbre en mi familia leer el periódico mientras desayunamos.

Why is costumbre preceded by una instead of un?

In Spanish, costumbre is a feminine noun, so it must be used with the feminine article una. If the noun were masculine, you would use un instead.

Why do we say mientras desayunamos and not something like mientras estamos desayunando?

In Spanish, using the simple present tense (desayunamos) can express habitual actions, especially in a context like this. Although estamos desayunando (we are having breakfast) is correct in a continuous sense, in this sentence it emphasizes that it’s a repeated routine.

What is the role of leer here and why is it not conjugated?

The phrase lir el periódico follows es una costumbre to describe what the custom actually is: reading the newspaper. In Spanish, an infinitive can act as a noun, explaining the activity rather than focusing on who performs it. That’s why it remains in the infinitive form leer instead of conjugating it.

Could we say Es costumbre en mi familia without una?

Yes, you might hear Es costumbre en mi familia in more formal or general contexts. Adding una simply makes it a bit more concrete or personal, but the meaning is essentially the same.

Why do we use el periódico instead of un periódico?

By saying el periódico, you imply the newspaper in a general sense, likely referring to the usual or a specific newspaper your family always reads. Using un periódico (a newspaper) would suggest any newspaper, without specifying one that’s commonly read.