Breakdown of La máquina sí que pita cuando hay oro.
haber
to be (there is / there are)
que
that / than
sí
yes
el oro
gold
cuando
when (statement)
la máquina
machine
pitar
to beep
Questions & Answers about La máquina sí que pita cuando hay oro.
How does sí que change the meaning compared to just saying La máquina pita?
What kind of verb is pitar? Can I use it for other types of sounds?
Pitar means to beep, honk, or blow a whistle. It is perfect for electronic devices like a metal detector, car horns, or a sports referee blowing a whistle. For a person whistling a tune with their mouth, you would instead use the verb silbar.
Why is the indicative verb hay used after cuando instead of the subjunctive?
We use the indicative hay because this sentence describes a habitual, recurring fact: every time there is gold, the machine beeps. If you were talking about an uncertain future event, you would use the subjunctive cuando haya oro.
Why is there no definite article before oro?
When using the impersonal verb hay (meaning 'there is' or 'there are') to talk about the existence of an unspecified amount of an uncountable noun, you drop the article. Saying hay el oro would sound unnatural here.
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