Breakdown of El brote se propaga debido a un error en la cocina.
un
a, an (masculine)
en
in / on / at
la cocina
the kitchen
se
(impersonal) one / passive marker
el error
the mistake
debido a
due to
el brote
the outbreak
propagar
to spread (disease, fire)
Questions & Answers about El brote se propaga debido a un error en la cocina.
Why do we use debido a here instead of debido a que?
We use debido a because it is directly followed by a noun phrase (un error en la cocina). You would use debido a que if you were introducing a full clause with a conjugated verb, such as: debido a que alguien cometió un error (due to the fact that someone made a mistake).
Could I use por culpa de instead of debido a in this sentence?
Why is it se propaga instead of just propaga?
The verb propagar on its own means to spread something else, like a person spreading a rumor or a virus. When the subject is spreading on its own (the outbreak spreads), we use the reflexive form propagarse to show that the action happens to the subject itself without a direct object.
I know brote means a sprout or bud for plants. Is it common to use it for an illness?
Yes, brote is the standard medical and news term for a sudden outbreak of a disease or virus. Because it refers to something suddenly springing up, it is also frequently used for sudden appearances of social issues, like un brote de violencia (an outbreak of violence).
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