Breakdown of La norma prohíbe que uses el teléfono.
el teléfono
the phone
usar
to use / to wear
que
that / than
prohibir
to prohibit
la norma
the rule (norm)
Questions & Answers about La norma prohíbe que uses el teléfono.
Why is it uses instead of usas?
Uses is in the subjunctive mood. In Spanish, when a main verb expresses a command, influence, or prohibition—like prohibir (to prohibit)—it triggers the subjunctive in the second part of the sentence. Because the rule is directing its prohibition at you, we use the tú form of the present subjunctive for usar, which is uses.
In English we say "prohibits you from using", but in Spanish it's prohíbe que uses. Why is the structure different?
English often uses "from [doing something]" or an infinitive after verbs of influence. Spanish relies on a different formula: [Verb of influence] + que + [different subject] + [subjunctive verb]. Literally, this sentence is structured as "The rule prohibits that you use the phone."
Why does prohíbe have an accent mark on the í?
The accent mark breaks up a vowel blend (a diphthong). The h in Spanish is silent, so the vowels i and e are right next to each other in pronunciation. Without the accent, they would blend into one syllable and the spoken stress would fall on the o (PRO-hi-be). The accent on the í forces it to be its own stressed syllable: pro-HÍ-be.
Could I use regla instead of norma for "rule" here?
Yes, regla and norma are often interchangeable when talking about rules. Norma can sound slightly more formal and is very common for institutional policies, laws, or societal norms, while regla is widely used for rules in games, grammar, or a classroom.
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