Learn Spanish (Latin America): Sin embargo, necesitamos binoculares para ver los patos. - However, we need binoculars to see the ducks.

Sin embargo, necesitamos binoculares para ver los patos.

However, we need binoculars to see the ducks.

Breakdown of Sin embargo, necesitamos binoculares para ver los patos.

necesitar

to need

ver

to see / to look / appear

los

the (masculine plural)

para

for

Questions & Answers about Sin embargo, necesitamos binoculares para ver los patos.

Why do we use para instead of por before ver?

We use para here because it expresses a purpose or a goal. We need the binoculars in order to see the ducks. When followed by an unconjugated verb like ver, para usually translates exactly to "in order to".

Why isn't there a personal a before los patos?

The personal a is required when the direct object is a specific person or a beloved pet. Since los patos (the ducks) are just wild animals or general birds in this context, they are treated as standard objects, so the personal a is not needed.

Why is there no article like unos or los before binoculares?

Just like in English, when you talk about an unspecified quantity of a thing in a general way, you can leave out the article. Saying necesitamos binoculares simply means "we need binoculars" (any binoculars, rather than a specific pair).

What is the literal translation of Sin embargo?

Sin embargo is a set phrase that means "however" or "nevertheless". Literally, sin means "without" and embargo means "hindrance" or "seizure" (originally a legal term). It evolved to mean "without hindrance to what was just said", giving us the modern meaning of "however".