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Tomamos un zumo de naranja antes de salir.

Tomamos un zumo de naranja antes de salir.
We have an orange juice before going out.
FromLesson 20inHardcore Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Tomamos un zumo de naranja antes de salir.

Is Tomamos present or past here? How can I tell?

It’s ambiguous in writing: tomamos can be either present (we drink) or simple past (we drank). Context or time markers disambiguate:

  • Present: Siempre tomamos un zumo… (We always drink…)
  • Past: Ayer tomamos un zumo… (Yesterday we drank…) If you need “used to,” you’d use the imperfect: tomábamos.
Why is there no nosotros? Where did the subject go?
Spanish is a “pro‑drop” language. The verb ending in tomamos already shows first‑person plural, so nosotros is normally omitted. You include nosotros only for emphasis or contrast: Nosotros tomamos un zumo… (as opposed to others).
Why tomar instead of beber? Are both correct?
Both are correct, but in Spain tomar is the default colloquial verb for “to have” food or drinks: tomar un café, tomar una caña, tomar un zumo. Beber focuses more on the act of drinking itself (quantity, habit, or ability). You’ll also hear the colloquial reflexive tomarse: Nos tomamos un zumo (we had a juice).
Should I say zumo or jugo?
In Spain, say zumo. In most of Latin America, jugo is standard. In Spain, jugo usually means “juice/gravy” from meat or vegetables, not a drink.
Why un zumo? Can I say just tomamos zumo de naranja?
  • un zumo refers to a serving (a glass). Very common when you mean “a juice.”
  • Bare zumo treats it as a mass noun: Tomamos zumo de naranja = We drink orange juice (in general/unspecified amount). Both are correct; choose based on meaning.
Why is it de naranja (singular), not de naranjas?
Flavor/type complements are typically singular in Spanish: zumo de naranja, helado de fresa, yogur de vainilla. You’d use plurals when you’re literally talking about the fruit items or varieties: zumo de naranjas valencianas.
Why antes de salir and not just antes salir or antes a salir?
After antes, Spanish requires de before an infinitive or a noun: antes de salir, antes de la película. Saying antes salir or antes a salir is incorrect.
When do I use antes de salir versus antes de que salgamos/saliéramos?
  • antes de + infinitive is used when the understood subject of both actions is the same: Tomamos… antes de salir (we … we).
  • antes de que + subjunctive is used when the subjects differ or when you want a full clause:
    Present/future: … antes de que salgamos.
    Past: … antes de que saliéramos.
Does salir need de? Should it be salir de casa?
When you name the place, yes: salir de casa, salir del trabajo. Without specifying the place, salir alone is fine and natural: antes de salir (before going out/leaving).
What’s the difference between salir and irse in this context?
  • salir = to go out/leave (often focuses on exiting a place): salir de casa.
  • irse = to leave/go away (focuses on the act of departing): irse de casa.
    You could say antes de irnos (before we leave), which is slightly more “we’re off now” in tone; antes de salir is more neutral.
Can I move antes de salir to the front? Do I need a comma?
Yes: Antes de salir, tomamos un zumo de naranja. Placing the time phrase first is common. A comma after a short initial phrase is optional but recommended for clarity.
Pronunciation tips for Spain?
  • zumo: initial z is the Castilian “th” sound: approx. “THU-mo.”
  • naranja: j is a harsh “kh” sound: “na-RAN-kha.”
  • tomamos: stress on the second syllable: “to-MA-mos.”
  • salir: stress on the last syllable: “sa-LEER.”
Could tomamos mean “we take” instead of “we drink”?
Yes, tomar also means “to take” (a bus, a pill, a seat). Here, context (a beverage) makes “have/drink” the intended meaning. Compare: Tomamos el autobús (We took the bus).
How would I say “we used to have an orange juice before going out”?
Use the imperfect for a past habit: Tomábamos un zumo de naranja antes de salir.
Can I use the present perfect in Spain: Hemos tomado un zumo…?
Yes, especially for actions within “today/this morning/this week” that feel connected to the present: Hoy hemos tomado un zumo de naranja antes de salir. For a completed, detached past, use the simple past: Ayer tomamos…
How do I say exactly where from or add more detail?
Add a place with de: … antes de salir de casa/de la oficina. You can also specify quantity or type: Tomamos un zumo de naranja natural; Tomamos dos zumos pequeños.
How do I negate this naturally?
  • General/mass: No tomamos zumo de naranja antes de salir. (We don’t drink orange juice before going out.)
  • Zero count: No tomamos ningún zumo antes de salir. (We didn’t have any juice.)
  • Using the indefinite is possible but more specific: No tomamos un zumo… (We didn’t have a juice/a glass.)
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