Breakdown of Es mejor que usted vaya a la embajada con la copia.
ser
to be
usted
you (formal)
con
with
ir
to go
Questions & Answers about Es mejor que usted vaya a la embajada con la copia.
Why do we use vaya instead of va here?
The phrase es mejor que (it is better that) expresses an opinion or a recommendation. In Spanish, giving an opinion about an action someone else should take triggers the subjunctive mood. That is why the normal present tense va changes to the subjunctive vaya.
Where does the word vaya come from?
It is the present subjunctive form of the verb ir (to go). Ir is completely irregular in the subjunctive. For usted (as well as yo, él, and ella), the form is vaya. If you were talking to a friend using tú, it would be vayas.
Could I leave out the word usted and just say Es mejor que vaya...?
Yes, you can drop usted if it is already clear who you are talking to. But because the subjunctive form vaya is shared by yo (I), él (he), ella (she), and usted (you, formal), Spanish speakers often include the pronoun to prevent confusion.
Why is there an a before la embajada?