Breakdown of Subir a la azotea con mis amigos me hace feliz.
el amigo
the friend
mi
my
con
with
me
me
hacer
to make
feliz
happy
a
to
subir
to go up
la azotea
the rooftop
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Questions & Answers about Subir a la azotea con mis amigos me hace feliz.
Why is subir used in the infinitive form at the beginning of the sentence?
In Spanish, an infinitive can function like a noun (a verbal noun). Here, subir a la azotea con mis amigos is the subject of me hace feliz, just as “going up to the rooftop with my friends” is the subject in English.
Why do we need the preposition a after subir in subir a la azotea?
When subir means “to go up onto” or “to climb,” it requires a before the destination. For example, subir a un árbol (“to climb a tree”) or subir al tren (“to get on the train”).
Why not use ir instead of subir? Could we say Ir a la azotea con mis amigos me hace feliz?
You could say ir a la azotea…, since ir means “to go.” But subir emphasizes the upward movement or ascent—perfect for rooftops reached by stairs or ladders. Using ir makes it more neutral.
What does azotea mean? How is it different from techo or terraza?
- Azotea: a flat, accessible roof often used as an outdoor space.
- Techo: the general roof or ceiling of a building, not necessarily an area you can walk on.
- Terraza: a terrace or patio, which can be at ground level or on top, and might have railings, furniture, plants, etc.
Why is con necessary in con mis amigos? What if we drop it?
Con means “with,” indicating accompaniment. If you drop con, mis amigos just means “my friends” (no sense of “together with”). You need con mis amigos to express “with my friends.”
Can we change the word order and say Me hace feliz subir a la azotea con mis amigos? Does it change the meaning?
Yes, that’s perfectly correct. Spanish allows flexibility with infinitive clauses. Placing me hace feliz at the front shifts the emphasis slightly onto the result (“it makes me happy”), but the overall meaning stays the same.
Why use me hace feliz instead of soy feliz?
Me hace feliz literally means “it makes me happy,” highlighting that the action (going up to the rooftop) causes your happiness. Soy feliz (“I am happy”) is a state-of-being statement, with no explicit cause.
Can we write Subirme a la azotea con mis amigos me hace feliz instead?
Yes, you can attach the object pronoun to the infinitive: subirme. It still means “going up to the rooftop with my friends makes me happy,” but in everyday speech Spanish speakers often leave the pronoun separate in this structure.
Could we replace feliz with contento? Any nuance?
Yes: me hace contento is grammatically fine. Feliz conveys deeper, more lasting joy, while contento suggests you’re pleased or satisfied in that moment.