Question 1

The translation says "that's why", but doesn't por eso literally mean "for that"?

Accepted Answer

Yes, literally it means "for that". However, in Spanish, por eso is the most common way to say "that's why" or "therefore". It's used as a connector to link a cause (el despertador no suena) with its direct consequence (sigo durmiendo).

Question 2

Why is it sigo durmiendo instead of using the infinitive, like "sigo dormir"?

Accepted Answer

To say you "keep doing" or "continue doing" something in Spanish, you use the verb seguir (to continue/follow) plus the gerund (the -ando or -iendo form of a verb). So, seguir + durmiendo translates to "keep sleeping".

Question 3

Wait, why is it spelled durmiendo with a "u" instead of "dormiendo"?

Accepted Answer

The verb dormir has a stem change in the present tense (the "o" becomes "ue", like in duermo). For -ir verbs that have this kind of stem change, the "o" changes to "u" in the gerund form. That is why it becomes durmiendo.

Question 4

The English translation says "isn't ringing". Why didn't we use no está sonando?

Accepted Answer

You definitely could say no está sonando, but in Spanish, the simple present tense (no suena) is used much more broadly than in English. It often covers actions happening right at this moment, which is why a simple present Spanish verb is frequently translated as an "-ing" verb in English.

Question 5

Is the word despertador related to the verb for waking up?

Accepted Answer

Exactly! It comes directly from the verb despertar (to wake up). So el despertador literally translates to "the waker"—the thing that wakes you up.

El despertador no suena, por eso sigo durmiendo.

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