Breakdown of Mi hermana también es valiente al defender sus ideas en clase.
ser
to be
en
in
mi
my
también
also
la idea
the idea
la hermana
the sister
la clase
the class
al
when
valiente
brave
defender
to defend
sus
her
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Mi hermana también es valiente al defender sus ideas en clase.
What does también mean in this sentence, and why is it placed where it is?
También translates as “also” in English. It indicates that my sister shares the quality of bravery with someone else (previously mentioned or implied). Its placement right after the subject emphasizes that, in addition to others, she too is brave.
How does the structure al defender work in this sentence?
The phrase al defender is a common Spanish construction that combines the contraction al (short for a + el) with an infinitive verb. It expresses the idea of “when defending” or “upon defending.” This construction sets the context in which her bravery is shown—specifically, the act of defending her ideas in class.
Why is the verb defender in its infinitive form rather than a gerund like defendiendo?
In the construction al + [infinitive], the use of the infinitive is required to indicate a simultaneous action or the condition under which something occurs. Although a gerund (like defendiendo) might appear similar in meaning, the idiomatic expression al defender correctly and naturally signals “when defending.”
How is possession expressed with the phrase sus ideas?
The word sus is a possessive adjective in Spanish. In this context, it means “her” by conveying that the ideas belong to my sister. Spanish possessive adjectives agree in number with the noun (ideas) without needing to match gender, so sus ideas directly translates to “her ideas.”
Is the word order in this sentence typical for Spanish, and what effect does it have?
Yes, the word order is very typical in Spanish. The sentence starts with the subject (Mi hermana), followed by the adverb (también) to highlight inclusivity, and then the main predicate (es valiente). The adverbial phrase al defender sus ideas en clase follows to provide additional context. This natural progression helps clearly convey both the main statement and the circumstances that emphasize her bravery.
How would you render the entire sentence into English?
In English, the sentence is rendered as: “My sister is also brave when defending her ideas in class.” This translation captures every element—identifying her, emphasizing her shared quality of bravery, and specifying the situation in which her bravery is evident.
Your questions are stored by us to improve Elon.io
You've reached your AI usage limit
Sign up to increase your limit.