Learn Spanish (Latin America): Tengan la prueba lista para el caso.

Tengan la prueba lista para el caso.

Have the evidence ready for the case.

Breakdown of Tengan la prueba lista para el caso.

Questions & Answers about Tengan la prueba lista para el caso.

Why is the word tengan used here instead of tienen?

Tengan is the command form of tener (to have) used when telling a group of people to do something (ustedes). Because tener is irregular, its ustedes command is formed by taking the present-tense yo form (tengo), dropping the -o, and adding the opposite ending -an to make tengan.

I learned that prueba means test. Does it also mean evidence?

Yes! While prueba often means a test or quiz in an academic setting, in a legal or investigative context it translates to proof or evidence.

Why is the word for ready spelled lista here instead of listo?

The word for ready acts as an adjective here, meaning it has to match the gender and number of the noun it describes. Since the evidence (la prueba) is feminine and singular, the adjective changes to lista.

Why do we use para instead of por for the phrase para el caso?

We use para here because it shows purpose or destination. The evidence is being prepared with a specific goal in mind: it is intended specifically for the trial or case.