Poco a poco, aprendo a bailar.

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Breakdown of Poco a poco, aprendo a bailar.

• aprender: to learn
• bailar: to dance
• a: to
• ,: comma
• poco a poco: little by little

Questions & Answers about Poco a poco, aprendo a bailar.

What does poco a poco mean, and how is it used in this sentence?

Poco a poco literally translates to “little by little” in English. It’s an adverbial phrase used to express gradual progress. In the sentence, it indicates that the process of learning how to dance happens slowly and steadily.

Why is there a comma after poco a poco in the sentence?

The comma separates the introductory adverbial phrase from the main clause. This punctuation reflects a natural pause in speaking and underscores the idea that the gradual progression (“poco a poco”) sets the stage for the main action, which is learning to dance.

Why is the subject not explicitly stated in aprendo a bailar?

In Spanish, subject pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation makes the subject clear. In this case, aprendo is in the first person singular form, implying that the speaker (yo/I) is the one who learns.

What is the function of the preposition a in aprendo a bailar?

The preposition a is used to introduce the infinitive verb bailar after aprender. In Spanish, when referring to learning a new skill or activity, it’s standard to say aprender a + infinitive. This construction is equivalent to saying “learn how to” in English.

Would it be correct to say aprendo bailar without the preposition a?

No, omitting the preposition a would not be considered grammatically correct in standard Spanish when pairing aprender with an activity. The correct expression is aprender a bailar, which clearly indicates that the speaker is learning how to dance.

What tense is used in aprendo a bailar, and what does it tell us about the action?

The verb aprendo is in the present tense, first person singular. This tense shows that the speaker is currently in the process of learning. Combined with poco a poco, the sentence emphasizes that the learning is ongoing and gradual.