Question 1

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 2

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

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

Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

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

Accepted Answer

Yes, the -ero (or -era for women) suffix is very productive in Spanish for creating professions or trades based on the item they work with or sell. For example, carne (meat) becomes carnicero (butcher), and pan (bread) becomes panadero (baker).

El zapatero usa un betún negro.

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