Breakdown of A veces sobra tiempo para leer un libro antes de dormir.
un
a
el libro
the book
leer
to read
para
to
a veces
sometimes
el tiempo
the time
dormir
to sleep
antes de
before
sobrar
to be left over
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Questions & Answers about A veces sobra tiempo para leer un libro antes de dormir.
What does A veces mean in this sentence?
A veces translates to "sometimes". It indicates that the situation—having extra time to read a book before sleeping—happens occasionally rather than all the time.
Why is the verb sobra used in the singular form here?
The verb sobra means "to be left over" or "to be extra." It’s conjugated in the third-person singular to agree with tiempo, which is an uncountable, singular noun referring to time in general.
What is the role of para in the phrase para leer un libro?
Para is used to express purpose or intention. In this case, it means "in order to read a book," indicating that the extra time is meant to be used for reading.
Why is it acceptable to use antes de dormir instead of something like antes de ir a dormir?
Both formulations are correct, but antes de dormir is a more concise and common expression in Spanish. After prepositions like antes de, it’s typical to use the bare infinitive when the meaning is clear, so adding extra words isn’t necessary.
How would you naturally translate the entire sentence into English?
A natural translation would be: "Sometimes there's extra time to read a book before bed." This version captures both the casual tone and the intended meaning of the original Spanish sentence.
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