ELONIO
Log inSign up

El entrenador dice que debes usar la colchoneta descalzo.

El entrenador dice que debes usar la colchoneta descalzo.
The trainer says that you must use the mat barefoot.
From Lesson 463:Referring to a situation (lo de que)·Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about El entrenador dice que debes usar la colchoneta descalzo.

Why is debes in the indicative if the trainer is giving a command?
When decir (to say/tell) is used to give an order, it normally triggers the subjunctive, as in dice que uses (he says to use). However, because we are using deber (must) to express the obligation, the clause functions as stating a fact: 'He says that you must...'. Therefore, debes stays in the indicative.
Does descalzo change depending on who is being spoken to?
Yes. In English, 'barefoot' acts like an adverb here describing how you use the mat. In Spanish, descalzo is an adjective describing the person doing the action, so it must agree in gender and number. If the trainer is talking to a woman, the sentence would end with descalza.
What kind of mat is a colchoneta?
A colchoneta is a padded exercise, yoga, or gym mat (the root word is colchón, meaning mattress). This is distinct from an alfombra, which is a decorative rug or carpet for a room.
How could I use the current lesson's grammar, lo de que, to refer to this rule?
If you were referring back to this gym rule as a known situation, you could say, No me gusta lo de que debes usar la colchoneta descalzo (I don't like that business about having to use the mat barefoot). Here, lo de que packages the entire conjugated clause into a single situational concept.

Learn El entrenador dice que debes usar la colchoneta descalzo and more in Spanish

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
  • ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
  • ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free
Start learning Spanish →