Breakdown of Esta técnica es infalible, puesto que nunca falla.
ser
to be
esta
this (feminine)
nunca
never
fallar
to fail (machines, plans) / to crash
la técnica
the technique
puesto que
since / given that
infalible
infallible
Questions & Answers about Esta técnica es infalible, puesto que nunca falla.
What exactly does puesto que mean, and how is it different from porque?
Puesto que means "since" or "given that." It's used to introduce a reason or cause that is often already known to the listener or is logically obvious (like an infallible technique never failing). It is a bit more formal than porque (because), which is generally used to introduce new information. Another common equivalent you'll see at this level is ya que.
Since this lesson covers subjunctive clauses, why is falla in the indicative mood here?
Conjunctions that declare a cause or an established fact, like puesto que, ya que, and porque, trigger the indicative mood because they state a reality. Here, you are affirming the fact that the technique actually never fails. You would typically only use the subjunctive with a cause if you were actively denying that cause (for example, using the structure no porque + subjunctive).
Could I use fracasar instead of fallar to say "it never fails"?
Fallar is the most natural choice here. It means to malfunction, stop working, or miss the mark, which is perfect for a technique, system, or machine. Fracasar carries a heavier, more dramatic connotation of failure, such as a business going bankrupt, a major project bombing, or a person being a failure in life.
Could I say no falla nunca instead of nunca falla?
Yes, both are grammatically correct and mean the exact same thing. As a quick review: in Spanish, if a negative word like nunca comes before the verb, you drop the no. If it comes after the verb, you are required to use a double negative (no falla nunca). Putting nunca before the verb is just slightly more concise and very common in everyday speech.
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