Breakdown of La bicicleta eléctrica es sostenible.
ser
to be
la bicicleta
the bicycle
eléctrico
electric
sostenible
sustainable
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Questions & Answers about La bicicleta eléctrica es sostenible.
Why is the article in la bicicleta eléctrica la instead of el?
Because in Spanish, nouns ending in -a are typically feminine, so we use the feminine definite article la. Bicicleta ends with -a, making it feminine, whereas el is the masculine article.
Why does the adjective eléctrica end with -a instead of -o?
Adjectives in Spanish must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Since bicicleta is feminine singular, the masculine form eléctrico changes to the feminine form eléctrica.
Why is eléctrica placed after bicicleta? Could I say eléctrica bicicleta?
Most descriptive adjectives in Spanish follow the noun they describe. Saying bicicleta eléctrica is the standard word order. Placing eléctrica before the noun (as in eléctrica bicicleta) would sound poetic or unusual, not normal everyday Spanish.
Why do we use es (from ser) instead of está (from estar)?
We use ser to describe inherent qualities or permanent characteristics. Sustainability is considered an intrinsic property of the electric bike, so we say es sostenible. Estar would be used for temporary states or locations, not for defining what something essentially is.
What does sostenible mean? Is it the same as sustentable?
Sostenible means sustainable, referring to something that can be maintained over time without depleting resources or harming the environment. Sustentable is also used to mean sustainable, but in Spain sostenible is more common. Both are correct, with sustentable seen more in Latin America.
Where is the stress in eléctrica, and how do I pronounce it?
The written accent mark on eléctrica indicates the stress is on the third-to-last syllable: e-LÉC-tri-ca. Phonetically it’s [eˈlek.tɾi.ka].
How would I make this sentence plural?
Change the article, noun, and adjectives to their plural forms:
Las bicicletas eléctricas son sostenibles.
Can I use una bici eléctrica instead of la bicicleta eléctrica? Would it change the meaning?
Yes. Bici is the informal short form of bicicleta, and una is the indefinite article “a/an.”
- Una bici eléctrica es sostenible means “An electric bike is sustainable” in a general sense.
- La bicicleta eléctrica es sostenible refers to a specific electric bike or the concept in general using a definite article.