Learn Spanish (Latin America): Ten cuidado con la pausa, el ensayo es importante. - Be careful with the pause, the rehearsal is important.

Ten cuidado con la pausa, el ensayo es importante.

Be careful with the pause, the rehearsal is important.

Breakdown of Ten cuidado con la pausa, el ensayo es importante.

Questions & Answers about Ten cuidado con la pausa, el ensayo es importante.

Why is the word ten used here instead of tienes?

Ten is the irregular informal command form of tener (to have). When you are directly telling someone you know well (using tú) to do something, you use this special short form.

Why does the sentence use the verb for "to have" to say "be careful"?

In Spanish, you don't say "be careful", you say "have care". The expression is tener cuidado. Since we are commanding someone to do it, we use the command form ten to make ten cuidado.

Why is it con la pausa instead of de la pausa?

When you want to specify what someone should be careful about, Spanish uses the preposition con (with). So, tener cuidado con means to be careful with or careful about something.

Does ensayo mean "essay" or "rehearsal"?

It can mean both! The word ensayo is used for a written essay, but it is also the standard word for a practice or rehearsal for a play, concert, or presentation. The mention of a pause here tells us it is a rehearsal.