Breakdown of Tal vez el mecánico no afloje la tuerca rota.
no
no, not
romper
to break
tal vez
perhaps / maybe
el mecánico
the mechanic
aflojar
to loosen
la tuerca
the nut (hardware)
Questions & Answers about Tal vez el mecánico no afloje la tuerca rota.
Why is afloje in the subjunctive here instead of the future tense (aflojará), since the English translation says "won't loosen"?
After adverbs of doubt like tal vez (maybe), Spanish often uses the subjunctive to show uncertainty, even when talking about the future. Using the present subjunctive (afloje) instead of the future tense emphasizes that you are truly doubting or guessing whether the mechanic will loosen the nut.
Could I use the indicative (afloja or aflojará) after tal vez in this sentence?
Yes! With tal vez, you can use the indicative if you feel more certain about the outcome. Saying Tal vez el mecánico no aflojará la tuerca sounds like you are fairly confident he won't loosen it, perhaps because you know the tool is broken. Using the subjunctive (afloje) makes the statement feel much more hypothetical.
Why is "nut" translated as tuerca here instead of nuez?
In Spanish, hardware and food use completely different words. A tuerca is a mechanical nut (the kind that fastens onto a bolt), while a nuez is a nut you eat, like a walnut.
As a quick refresher, why is the word for "broken" rota and not rompida?
The verb romper (to break) has an irregular past participle: roto. Since it is acting as an adjective describing the feminine singular noun tuerca, the ending changes to match it, becoming rota.
Learn Tal vez el mecánico no afloje la tuerca rota and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free