Breakdown of Cada tarde dibujo una sonrisa en mi cuaderno para practicar.
yo
I
una
a
en
in
mi
my
para
to
el cuaderno
the notebook
cada
each
practicar
to practice
la tarde
the afternoon
dibujar
to draw
la sonrisa
the smile
Elon.io is an online learning platform
We have an entire course teaching Spanish grammar and vocabulary.
Questions & Answers about Cada tarde dibujo una sonrisa en mi cuaderno para practicar.
Why is cada tarde used instead of todas las tardes?
Both expressions describe a habitual action. Cada tarde literally means “each afternoon,” putting focus on individual occurrences. Todas las tardes means “every afternoon,” emphasizing the routine as a whole. They’re interchangeable here, though cada tarde is slightly more concise.
Why is the simple present tense dibujo used? Could I use a present continuous form?
In Spanish, the simple present often expresses habitual or repeated actions, just like in English: “I draw a smile every afternoon.” The present continuous (estoy dibujando) highlights an action in progress right now. If you said Cada tarde estoy dibujando una sonrisa…, you’d sound as if you’re describing what you’re doing this very afternoon, rather than your regular habit.
Why do we need the article una before sonrisa?
Spanish grammar requires an article before most singular, countable nouns. You can’t say sonrisa alone; you need una sonrisa (“a smile”). Omitting the article would be ungrammatical here.
Why is the preposition en used before mi cuaderno? Could we say sobre mi cuaderno?
En is the most common way to say “on” or “in” a surface or container: en mi cuaderno literally “in/on my notebook pages.” While sobre also means “on,” it often suggests “on top of” something, which could imply you’re drawing on the cover or simply placing something on the notebook. For drawing inside the pages, en is idiomatic.
Why follow with para practicar using an infinitive? Could I use a gerund like practicando?
After para (meaning “in order to”), Spanish always takes the infinitive form of the verb: para practicar. A gerund (the –ando/–iendo form) appears in other contexts (e.g. Estoy practicando), but not for expressing purpose after para.
What exactly am I practicing: drawing or smiling?
Here you’re practicing your drawing skills—specifically drawing smiles in your notebook. Clues are dibujo (“I draw”) and cuaderno (“notebook”). You’re not practicing the physical act of smiling, but the act of drawing that shape.