Question 1

Why does the translation say "those" when the Spanish uses the singular esa?

Accepted Answer

Esa is singular because it grammatically agrees with the collective noun cincuentena (a group of fifty), which is a singular feminine noun. Even though English translates this naturally as "those fifty or so boys", in Spanish you are literally referring to "that fifty-group of boys".

Question 2

How exactly do we form words like cincuentena?

Accepted Answer

You take the base number, in this case cincuenta, drop the final vowel, and add the suffix -ena. These nouns represent an approximate amount or a collective group. So, una cincuentena means "a group of about fifty" or "fifty or so".

Question 3

Why is the verb iba singular if it is talking about fifty boys?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, the verb must agree with the main noun of the subject. Here, the core subject is the singular noun cincuentena, not the boys themselves. Therefore, it takes the third-person singular verb iba, even though it is followed by the plural phrase de chicos.

Question 4

Why is the subject esa cincuentena de chicos placed at the very end of the question?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish questions, it is standard to invert the subject and the verb. It is especially common to place a long, heavy subject phrase at the very end of the sentence because it flows much better. Putting it before the verb would sound a bit clunky here.

Question 5

What does the verb corear mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

Corear comes from the noun coro (chorus or choir). It means to chant, shout, or sing something together in unison, which is exactly what a crowd of fifty boys at a sports game or protest might do.

¿Por qué iba a corear esa cincuentena de chicos?

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