Breakdown of Tapa la olla con la tapadera para que la sopa no se enfríe.
con
with
la sopa
the soup
no
not
la olla
the pot
Questions & Answers about Tapa la olla con la tapadera para que la sopa no se enfríe.
What does tapa mean here? Is it the noun tapa or the verb?
Here tapa is the command form of the verb tapar, which means to cover.
So:
- tapa = cover! (informal singular command, said to tú)
- la tapa = the lid / cover
- una tapa can also mean a lid, and in another context a tapa can mean the Spanish snack
In this sentence, Tapa la olla... means Cover the pot..., so it is definitely the verb.
Why is it tapa and not tape?
Because this is the affirmative tú command of tapar.
For most regular -ar verbs, the affirmative tú command is the same as the él/ella/usted present form:
- tapar → él tapa
- command to tú → tapa
Examples:
- Habla = Speak
- Mira = Look
- Tapa = Cover
If you were speaking more formally to usted, you would say:
- Tape la olla...
Why do we use la in la olla and la tapadera?