Corto las verduras con un cuchillo afilado antes de mezclar todos los ingredientes.

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Breakdown of Corto las verduras con un cuchillo afilado antes de mezclar todos los ingredientes.

• un: a
• con: with
• antes de: before
• el ingrediente: the ingredient
• todo: all
• la verdura: the vegetable
• mezclar: to mix
• cortar: to cut
• el cuchillo: the knife
• afilado: sharp

Questions & Answers about Corto las verduras con un cuchillo afilado antes de mezclar todos los ingredientes.

Why is the subject pronoun omitted in "Corto las verduras..."?

In Spanish it’s common to drop the subject pronoun when the verb form makes the subject clear. The conjugation "corto" already indicates that the speaker is "I," so adding "yo" is unnecessary.

What tense is "corto" and how does it function in this context?

"Corto" is in the simple present tense. In contexts like recipes or instructions, the present tense is often used to describe steps in a procedure, giving the sentence a timeless, general quality even if it refers to a specific action.

Why does the adjective "afilado" come after "cuchillo"? Could it be placed before the noun?

In Spanish, adjectives that describe physical properties typically follow the noun. So "cuchillo afilado" (sharp knife) is the natural order. Although some adjectives can come before the noun for emphasis or stylistic reasons, in this case the standard placement is after the noun.

What does the phrase "antes de" mean and why is it followed by the infinitive "mezclar"?

"Antes de" means "before." In Spanish, when a verb follows a preposition like "antes de," it must be in the infinitive form. Hence, "antes de mezclar" correctly indicates that the mixing of ingredients happens after the vegetables are cut.

Why is "mezclar" not conjugated like "corto"?

Because "mezclar" follows the preposition "de" in the phrase "antes de," it remains in its infinitive form. In Spanish, verbs following prepositions are not conjugated.

What role do the definite articles "las" and "los" play in this sentence?

The articles "las" in "las verduras" and "los" in "todos los ingredientes" specify particular vegetables and ingredients known from the context. They help indicate that you are referring to specific items rather than a general or undefined set.

Why is "todos" used before "los ingredientes"?

"Todos" means "all" and serves as a quantifier to emphasize that every single ingredient is included in the mixing process. It reinforces that the mixing should involve all the ingredients mentioned.