Breakdown of Nosotros escribimos un libro y ustedes leen el correo.
y
and
leer
to read
el libro
the book
un
a, an (masculine)
nosotros
we
ustedes
you (plural)
escribir
to write
el correo
the mail / the email
Questions & Answers about Nosotros escribimos un libro y ustedes leen el correo.
Why does escribimos end in -imos, while the other verb leen ends in -en?
Escribimos comes from the verb escribir (to write). Since it is an -ir verb, its 'we' form takes the -imos ending. Leen comes from the -er verb leer (to read). For ustedes (you all), both -er and -ir verbs use the exact same -en ending. Just keep in mind that for the 'we' form, -er and -ir verbs are different: -emos for -er verbs and -imos for -ir verbs!
Do I have to include the words nosotros and ustedes in this sentence?
You do not have to, but including them creates a strong contrast between what 'we' are doing and what 'you all' are doing. Since Spanish verb endings already tell us who the subject is, you could safely just say Escribimos un libro y leen el correo. However, keeping ustedes helps clarify exactly who is reading, since leen by itself can also mean 'they read'.
Why are there two 'e's in leen?
Does el correo mean 'the mail' or 'the email'?
It can mean both! El correo translates to 'the mail' (letters and packages), but it is also commonly used as a short way to say el correo electrónico (the email). In this sentence, reading the physical mail or reading the email both make perfect sense. As a bonus, el correo can also refer to the post office building itself.
Learn Nosotros escribimos un libro y ustedes leen el correo and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free