Learn Spanish (Latin America): El zapatero usa un betún negro.

El zapatero usa un betún negro.

The cobbler uses a black shoe polish.

Breakdown of El zapatero usa un betún negro.

Questions & Answers about El zapatero usa un betún negro.

How would I apply this lesson's grammar to say "I am going to the cobbler so that he uses a black shoe polish"?

You would use a verb of motion, add a que, and change usa to the subjunctive: Voy al zapatero a que use un betún negro. The phrase a que introduces the purpose of your errand, and because the subject changes from you (going) to the cobbler (using the polish), the second verb must be in the subjunctive.

Wait, doesn't betún mean frosting or icing on a cake?

It depends on where you are! In many parts of Latin America (like Mexico), betún is indeed the word for cake frosting. However, in this context, it means shoe polish. If you need to be perfectly clear about shoe polish to avoid confusion, you can also use crema para zapatos or grasa para zapatos.

Is it more common to say usa un betún negro or just usa betún negro without the article?

Both are correct, but they have a slight difference in nuance. Saying usa betún negro treats the polish as an uncountable general substance (uses black shoe polish). Including un as in usa un betún negro implies a specific type, brand, or tin of black shoe polish.

The word zapatero comes from zapato. Is the -ero suffix the standard way to form profession nouns?