Question 1

Why is sea in the subjunctive here instead of the indicative es?

Accepted Answer

Using the subjunctive sea after aunque changes the meaning to a hypothetical 'Even if'. It means we don't know for sure yet if the terrain is easy, or we are just considering it as a possibility. If we used the indicative es, it would mean 'Even though the terrain is easy', which states a known, verified fact.

Question 2

Why do we use a form of ser (sea) for the terrain being easy, rather than estar (esté)?

Accepted Answer

We use ser to describe the inherent characteristics or qualities of things. The terrain being 'easy' (meaning it is not steep or it is easy to navigate) is considered a characteristic of the land itself, so we use sea instead of esté.

Question 3

Why isn't there an a after mirar? Doesn't 'look at' translate to mirar a?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, the verb mirar already means 'to look at'. You don't need to add the preposition a unless you are looking at a specific person or a pet, which requires the personal a. Since a compass (la brújula) is an object, mirar la brújula is exactly right.

Question 4

Could I just say tenemos mirar instead of tenemos que mirar?

Accepted Answer

No, to express obligation or 'having to' do something, you must always use the phrase tener que followed by an infinitive verb (like mirar). Leaving out the que is a common mistake for English speakers, but it makes the sentence grammatically incorrect.

Aunque el terreno sea fácil, tenemos que mirar la brújula.

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