Breakdown of Mi compañera prefiere estudiar en la biblioteca.
en
in
mi
my
estudiar
to study
la biblioteca
the library
preferir
to prefer
la compañera
the classmate
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Questions & Answers about Mi compañera prefiere estudiar en la biblioteca.
What exactly does the word compañera mean here?
In Spain it most commonly means "female classmate" or "female coworker/teammate," depending on context. You can make it explicit:
- compañera de clase = classmate
- compañera de trabajo = coworker
- compañera de piso = roommate/flatmate It can also mean "partner" in some contexts, but for a romantic partner Spaniards often say pareja.
Why is it compañera and not compañero?
Because it refers to a female person. Masculine: compañero. Plurals: compañeras (all female) and compañeros (all male or mixed).
Does mi need an accent, or is it mí?
Here it's mi (no accent) because it's a possessive adjective: "my." mí (with accent) is the pronoun used after prepositions, e.g., para mí = "for me."
Could I drop the possessor and just say Compañera prefiere…?
No. Spanish singular countable nouns normally need a determiner. Use mi compañera, la compañera, or una compañera, depending on meaning.
Why is it prefiere and not prefieren?
Subject–verb agreement. Mi compañera is singular, so the verb is third person singular: prefiere. Plural subject: Mis compañeras prefieren…
How does preferir conjugate in the present in Spain, and what's the stem change?
It's an e→ie stem-changing verb in all forms except nosotros/vosotros:
- yo prefiero
- tú prefieres
- él/ella/usted prefiere
- nosotros/as preferimos
- vosotros/as preferís (used in Spain)
- ellos/ellas/ustedes prefieren
Why is the next verb an infinitive (estudiar) and not estudiando?
After verbs of liking/wanting/plan/preference (e.g., preferir, querer, poder), Spanish uses the infinitive: prefiere estudiar = "prefers to study." estudiando is a gerund used for ongoing actions: está estudiando = "is studying."
Do I need a preposition before the infinitive (like a estudiar)?
No. It's simply preferir + infinitive: prefiere estudiar. No preposition.
Why is it en la biblioteca and not a la biblioteca?
- en = "in/at" (location): estudiar en la biblioteca.
- a = "to" (movement): ir a la biblioteca = "to go to the library." Here we describe where the studying happens, not movement, so we use en.
Why do we say la biblioteca with the article?
Places usually take a definite article in Spanish when you refer to them generically as locations: en la biblioteca, en el banco, en el hospital. A few set phrases drop it (e.g., en casa, en clase), but biblioteca needs the article.
Is biblioteca the same as librería?
No. False friends:
- biblioteca = library (where you borrow books)
- librería = bookstore (where you buy books)
Can en also mean "at"? English says "at the library."
Yes. Spanish uses en for both "in" and "at" with places: en la universidad, en el trabajo, en la biblioteca.
Can I move the phrase en la biblioteca to another position?
Yes, for focus or style:
- En la biblioteca, mi compañera prefiere estudiar.
- Mi compañera, en la biblioteca, prefiere estudiar. (more marked) Default and most natural is the original order. Avoid flipping subject and verb in neutral statements: Prefiere mi compañera estudiar… sounds marked or poetic.
How do I pronounce the ñ in compañera?
Like the "ny" in "canyon." compañera ≈ "kohm-pah-NYEH-rah." The ñ is its own letter in Spanish.
Where is the stress in these words?
- compañera: com-pa-ÑE-ra (stress on the penultimate syllable).
- prefiere: pre-FIE-re (stress on FIE).
- biblioteca: bi-blio-TE-ca (stress on TE).
When does preferir trigger the subjunctive?
When you use preferir que with a change of subject:
- Mi compañera prefiere estudiar en la biblioteca. (same subject, infinitive)
- Mi compañera prefiere que estudiemos en la biblioteca. (different subject, subjunctive estudiemos)
Can I rephrase it as "She prefers the library for studying"?
Yes: Mi compañera prefiere la biblioteca para estudiar. Here para + infinitive expresses purpose.
Is there a difference between prefiere and le gusta más?
Both express preference, but:
- prefiere is a direct, neutral "prefers."
- le gusta más = "likes X more," slightly more colloquial and comparative. E.g., Le gusta más estudiar en la biblioteca ≈ Prefiere estudiar en la biblioteca.
How do I make the sentence plural?
- All-female group: Mis compañeras prefieren estudiar en la biblioteca.
- Mixed or all-male group: Mis compañeros prefieren estudiar en la biblioteca.
Do I need to add ella? Can I say Ella, mi compañera, prefiere…?
You don't need ella. Mi compañera already serves as the subject. You can add ella only for emphasis or contrast, but it's uncommon to double-mark the subject in the same clause.
How would I say "You all (Spain) prefer to study in the library"?
Use vosotros forms (common in Spain):
- (Vosotros) preferís estudiar en la biblioteca. Subject pronoun vosotros can be dropped unless needed for clarity or emphasis.
Could I say por la biblioteca instead of en la biblioteca?
No for location of the action. por la biblioteca means "through/by the library" (movement or area), not "in/at the library." For location use en; for purpose use para: la biblioteca para estudiar.
Is there a casual way to say "library" in Spain?
Yes, colloquially many people say la biblio: Mi compañera prefiere estudiar en la biblio. Suitable in informal speech.