Breakdown of Mi amigo está contento con la nota que obtuvo en su examen.
el amigo
the friend
la
the
en
in
mi
my
con
with
estar
to be
su
his
que
that
contento
happy
él
he
el examen
the exam
la nota
the grade
obtener
to obtain
Questions & Answers about Mi amigo está contento con la nota que obtuvo en su examen.
Why is está used here instead of es?
In Spanish, estar usually describes a temporary state or condition, such as someone’s current mood or emotional state. Since being happy (contento) about a grade is not a permanent quality, we use está instead of es.
What does contento mean, and are there other similar words in Spanish?
Contento means happy or pleased in English. It often implies satisfaction or a good mood. Similar words include feliz (which can imply a more lasting happiness) and alegre (which can suggest cheerfulness or joy).
Why is the preposition con used with contento?
In Spanish, certain adjectives are followed by specific prepositions. Contento typically goes with con to indicate the reason or cause of the happiness. Think of it as being “happy with something.”
What is the function of que obtuvo in the sentence?
Que obtuvo introduces a relative clause describing the nota (the grade). It literally means that he got. It gives us more information about which grade we are talking about—for example, “the grade that he got” on his exam.
Is there a difference between nota and calificación when referring to grades?
Both words can mean grade or mark in Spanish, and they’re often used interchangeably. Nota is very commonly used in Spain, while calificación can sound a bit more formal or be used in different Spanish-speaking regions.
More from this lesson
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“What's the best way to learn Spanish grammar?”
Spanish grammar becomes intuitive with practice. Focus on understanding the core patterns first — how sentences are structured, how verbs change form, and how words relate to each other. Our course breaks these concepts into small lessons so you can build understanding step by step.
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning SpanishMaster Spanish — from Mi amigo está contento con la nota que obtuvo en su examen to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions