Breakdown of Prefiero usar bloqueador por si caminamos mucho.
mucho
many / a lot
usar
to use / to wear
caminar
to walk
preferir
to prefer
por
for / by / through / in/during (part of the day)
si
if
el bloqueador
sunscreen
Questions & Answers about Prefiero usar bloqueador por si caminamos mucho.
Why is caminamos in the present indicative? Doesn't "in case we walk" express a hypothetical situation, which usually triggers the subjunctive?
It is a great observation, but por si is a special exception! When talking about a possible event in the present or future, por si (and por si acaso) is always followed by the present indicative, like caminamos, and never the present subjunctive.
Could I say por si acaso caminamos mucho instead of just por si?
Why do we use the infinitive usar right after prefiero?
Because the person doing the preferring and the person doing the using are the same (you are saying "I prefer that I use"). When there is no change of subject, verbs of preference are followed directly by an infinitive. If you wanted to say "I prefer that YOU use sunscreen," you would need a subject change and the subjunctive: Prefiero que uses bloqueador.
Is bloqueador the standard word for sunscreen?
In Latin America, bloqueador (short for bloqueador solar) is extremely common for sunscreen or sunblock. You will also frequently hear protector solar. Both are perfectly understood and widely used.
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