El ordenador se usa para estudiar.

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Breakdown of El ordenador se usa para estudiar.

• estudiar: to study
• el ordenador: the computer
• usarse: to be used

Questions & Answers about El ordenador se usa para estudiar.

What is the function of se in the sentence El ordenador se usa para estudiar?

In this sentence, se is used to form a passive or impersonal construction. It expresses that “the computer is used” without specifying an agent. This construction shifts the focus to the object's purpose rather than who is doing the using.

Why is the sentence translated as “The computer is used for studying” instead of “The computer uses for studying” or another active form?

Spanish often employs the se construction to indicate that an object has a typical or intended use. By using se, the sentence emphasizes the function of the computer (its use for studying) rather than focusing on a specific subject performing the action.

Why is the verb usar conjugated as usa in this sentence?

Usa is the third-person singular form of usar in the present tense. Since El ordenador is a singular noun, the verb must agree in number and person, which is why usa is used—even in this passive-like construction.

What does para estudiar indicate in the sentence?

Para estudiar means “for studying.” The preposition para is used to express purpose or intent. In this case, it clarifies that the computer is used with the purpose of studying.

Are there alternative ways to express this idea in Spanish?

Yes. You could say El ordenador se utiliza para estudiar, which uses the verb utilizar instead of usar, but the meaning remains the same. Another, though less common, option is El ordenador es usado para estudiar, which is a more explicit passive construction.

Why is ordenador a masculine noun, and how does that affect the sentence?

In Spanish, every noun has a grammatical gender, and ordenador is masculine by convention. This means it takes masculine articles and adjectives (like el), but the gender is arbitrary and simply a feature of the language rather than indicating any inherent masculine quality in the object itself.