El lápiz afilado es bueno para escribir.

The sharp pencil is good for writing.

Breakdown of El lápiz afilado es bueno para escribir.

• ser: to be
• bueno: good
• para: for
• el lápiz: the pencil
• escribir: to write
• afilado: sharp

Questions & Answers about El lápiz afilado es bueno para escribir.

Why is the adjective afilado placed after the noun lápiz instead of before it, as we usually say “sharp pencil” in English?

In Spanish, the default word order puts adjectives after the noun they modify. So lápiz afilado directly translates to “pencil sharp” in structure, which is the norm. Placing the adjective after emphasizes its descriptive quality, and while there are cases where adjectives go before the noun, this is the typical arrangement for objective descriptions.

What does afilado mean in this sentence? Does it refer to the pencil being intelligent or something else?

Afilado literally means “sharp.” In this sentence, it indicates that the pencil has a fine or pointed tip, which makes it suitable for writing. It does not refer to intelligence. In Spanish, to describe someone as sharp or clever, you’d use words like inteligente or perspicaz.

Why is the definite article el used before lápiz even though English sometimes drops the article for general statements?

In Spanish, nouns generally require a definite article when they are singular and being described, even in general statements. El lápiz afilado refers to “the pencil” that possesses the quality of being sharp. The use of el signals gender (masculine) and number (singular), and helps keep the sentence grammatically correct.

Why is escribir in its infinitive form after para rather than conjugated?

In Spanish, when expressing purpose with the preposition para, the verb that follows is always in its infinitive form. Para escribir means “for writing” or “to write,” indicating the intended use or function of the pencil. This is similar to English constructions like “good for cooking,” where the verb remains in a non-finite form.

How does subject–verb and adjective–noun agreement work in this sentence?

The subject of the sentence is el lápiz, which is a masculine and singular noun. Accordingly, both the adjective afilado and the verb es agree in gender and number with the noun. This consistency is required by Spanish grammar rules so that all parts of the sentence harmonize properly.

What would be the difference if I said el afilado lápiz instead of el lápiz afilado?

While both orders are grammatically correct, positioning the adjective before the noun can sometimes imply a subjective nuance or emphasize a quality in a more figurative or exceptional way. El afilado lápiz might suggest that the sharpness is a particularly striking or inherent feature of the pencil, whereas el lápiz afilado is the standard, objective description. Generally, for simply stating that the pencil is sharp and good for writing, the adjective is placed after the noun.