Una vez cocido el pollo, se puede mezclar todo y agitar la sopa suavemente.

Once the chicken is cooked, you can mix everything and gently shake (stir) the soup.

Breakdown of Una vez cocido el pollo, se puede mezclar todo y agitar la sopa suavemente.

• la: the
• el: the
• y: and
• poder: to be able
• ,: comma
• la sopa: the soup
• el pollo: the chicken
• todo: everything
• se: one
• una vez: once
• cocido: cooked
• mezclar: to mix
• agitar: to shake
• suavemente: gently

Questions & Answers about Una vez cocido el pollo, se puede mezclar todo y agitar la sopa suavemente.

How is the phrase Una vez cocido el pollo structured and translated into English?

It translates to "Once the chicken is cooked." The sentence uses Una vez to indicate "once" or "after," and cocido—the past participle of cocer—functions as an adjective describing the state of el pollo. This structure shows that the chicken must be fully cooked before proceeding with the next steps.

What is the function of se puede in this sentence?

Se puede is an impersonal construction meaning "one can" or "it is possible to." It doesn’t refer to any specific subject but rather conveys a general instruction that, after the chicken is cooked, one may mix everything together and gently stir the soup.

Why is the past participle cocido used instead of a fully conjugated verb form?

Using cocido emphasizes the completed state of the chicken. In Spanish, the past participle can serve as an adjective to succinctly indicate that an action (in this case, cooking) has already been completed. This construction neatly sets the stage for the subsequent actions described in the sentence.

What is the distinction between mezclar and agitar here?

Mezclar means "to mix" or "to combine" and involves bringing all the ingredients together. Agitar, on the other hand, translates to "to stir" or "to shake," and in this context it is used to indicate a gentle stirring of the soup. Essentially, after mixing everything, the soup requires a gentle agitation to ensure proper consistency.

How does the adverb suavemente modify the action of agitar?

Suavemente means "gently." It modifies agitar by specifying that the stirring should be done in a soft and careful manner, ensuring that the texture of the soup is maintained and that none of the ingredients are overly disrupted.