Question 1

Why is cincuenta y tres written as three separate words?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, numbers from 31 to 99 are formed by taking the tens (cincuenta for fifty), adding y (and), and then adding the single digits (tres for three). Unlike the twenties, which are combined into a single word like veintitrés, numbers from 31 upwards are always written as three separate words.

Question 2

Where is the word for 'we' in this sentence?

Accepted Answer

The 'we' is built right into the verb. The verb vemos comes from ver (to see), and the -emos ending tells us that 'we' are doing the seeing. You could say nosotros vemos, but Spanish speakers usually drop the nosotros because the verb ending makes it obvious.

Question 3

Why is there an accent mark on pájaros?

Accepted Answer

The written accent tells you which syllable to stress. Because the word ends in an 's', the natural stress would fall on the second-to-last syllable (pa-JA-ros). Since the word is actually pronounced with the stress on the first syllable (PA-ja-ros), it needs a written accent mark to break the standard rule.

Question 4

Could I use ahí instead of allí?

Accepted Answer

It depends on exactly where the birds are. Allí refers to a place that is further away from both the person speaking and the person listening. Ahí usually means 'there' but closer to the listener. If you are pointing at birds in the distance, allí is the best choice.

Vemos cincuenta y tres pájaros allí.

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