Cuando abro la puerta del balcón, entra una brisa agradable de la calle.

When I open the balcony door, a pleasant breeze comes in from the street.

Breakdown of Cuando abro la puerta del balcón, entra una brisa agradable de la calle.

• yo: I
• una: a
• la: the
• cuando: when
• el: the
• abrir: to open
• de: of
• de: from
• la puerta: the door
• ,: comma
• agradable: pleasant
• el balcón: the balcony
• entrar: to enter
• la brisa: the breeze
• la calle: the street

Questions & Answers about Cuando abro la puerta del balcón, entra una brisa agradable de la calle.

Why is there a comma after "Cuando abro la puerta del balcón"?

The comma separates the introductory subordinate clause ("Cuando abro la puerta del balcón") from the main clause ("entra una brisa agradable de la calle"). In Spanish, it is standard to use a comma after a clause that sets up time, condition, or cause before the main statement.

Why is the phrase written as "puerta del balcón" instead of "puerta de el balcón"?

In Spanish, the preposition de combines with the masculine singular article el to form the contraction del. This contraction is mandatory, so "puerta de el balcón" becomes puerta del balcón.

Why does the subject "una brisa agradable de la calle" appear after the verb "entra"?

In Spanish, it is common to invert the usual subject-verb order, especially in sentences where the clause begins with an adverbial or subordinate phrase. This word order not only emphasizes the action (the breeze entering) but also is a natural stylistic choice in Spanish when the subject is not the main focus.

How is the adjective "agradable" correctly placed in the sentence, and why is its position important?

In Spanish, adjectives generally follow the noun they modify. Thus, una brisa agradable fits the typical pattern, whereas placing the adjective before the noun (as in una agradable brisa) can sometimes convey a different nuance or emphasis. The chosen order here is the standard and more neutral descriptive form.

What is the significance of the verbs "abro" and "entra" in this sentence?

The verb abro is the first person singular present indicative form of abrir, meaning "I open." The verb entra is the third person singular present indicative form of entrar, meaning "it enters." Even though the breeze is an inanimate subject, it takes the third person singular form, which is typical in Spanish.

What function does the phrase "de la calle" serve in the sentence?

The phrase de la calle functions as a prepositional phrase that specifies where the breeze comes from. It provides additional context by indicating that the pleasant breeze originates from the street.

Is the overall sentence structure typical for expressing a sequence of events in Spanish?

Yes, the structure is very typical. It begins with an introductory adverbial clause ("Cuando abro la puerta del balcón") that sets the time or condition, followed by the main clause ("entra una brisa agradable de la calle") stating the result. This structure is a standard way to express sequential or conditional actions in Spanish.