Breakdown of Es mejor que no usemos el ascensor si está averiado.
ser
to be
estar
to be
nosotros
we
usar
to use
Questions & Answers about Es mejor que no usemos el ascensor si está averiado.
Why is usemos used instead of usamos?
Because es mejor que normally triggers the subjunctive.
In this sentence, Es mejor que no usemos el ascensor... means something like It’s better that we not use the lift... / We’d better not use the lift... It expresses a recommendation or judgment, not a simple statement of fact.
- usamos = present indicative: we use / we are using
- usemos = present subjunctive: that we use
So after es mejor que, Spanish uses the subjunctive:
Es mejor que + subjunctive
How do you form usemos?