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Questions & Answers about Todos cantan en el parque.
What does todos mean in this sentence, and how is it functioning?
Todos translates to 'everyone' or 'all' and is used here as a pronoun representing the entire group that sings. It stands in as the subject of the sentence.
Why is the verb cantan in the third person plural form, when in English “everyone sings” uses a singular verb?
In Spanish, despite todos meaning “everyone,” it is treated as a plural subject. Therefore, the verb cantar must agree with a plural subject, leading to the third person plural form cantan. This contrasts with English, where "everyone" is grammatically singular.
What tense is cantan in, and what does its usage imply about the action?
Cantan is in the present tense. This indicates that the action of singing is either taking place habitually, generally, or at the present moment.
How does the phrase en el parque function in the sentence?
En el parque is a prepositional phrase acting as an adverbial modifier. It tells us where the singing occurs, with en meaning “in” and el parque meaning “the park.”
Can the subject be omitted in Spanish sentences, and why is todos explicitly stated here?
Yes, Spanish often allows the omission of the subject because verb conjugations make it clear who is performing the action. However, todos is included in this case to emphasize that every person in the group is singing, adding clarity and emphasis to the sentence.