Learn Spanish (Latin America): Terminada la limpieza, el relojero pule el pequeño resorte. - The cleaning finished, the watchmaker polishes the small spring.

Terminada la limpieza, el relojero pule el pequeño resorte.

The cleaning finished, the watchmaker polishes the small spring.

Breakdown of Terminada la limpieza, el relojero pule el pequeño resorte.

Questions & Answers about Terminada la limpieza, el relojero pule el pequeño resorte.

Why does the sentence start with Terminada instead of using a phrase like "Después de terminar"?

This is called an absolute participle phrase. In Spanish, placing a past participle right before a noun (like Terminada la limpieza) is a concise, slightly formal way to say "Once the cleaning was finished" or "Having finished the cleaning." You will see this structure frequently in written Spanish and literature.

Why does Terminada end in an "-a" here?

In an absolute participle construction, the past participle functions like an adjective describing the noun that immediately follows it. Because la limpieza is a feminine singular noun, the participle must be terminada to match it in gender and number.

Why is the adjective pequeño placed before the noun resorte?

Descriptive adjectives usually go after the noun to distinguish them from others (e.g., picking the small spring out of a box of large ones). Placing pequeño before the noun highlights its size as an inherent or descriptive focus. The sentence emphasizes the delicate, tiny nature of the spring itself, rather than categorizing it.

Does pule come from a stem-changing verb?