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Yo siempre cocino la carne con cebolla y ajo.

Yo siempre cocino la carne con cebolla y ajo.
I always cook the meat with onion and garlic.
From Lesson 67:Fresh Produce·Spanish (Spain)

Questions & Answers about Yo siempre cocino la carne con cebolla y ajo.

Is the word yo strictly necessary at the start of this sentence?
No, it is optional. The verb cocinar (to cook) is conjugated as cocino, and that -o ending already tells us that 'I' am the one doing the action. Including yo just adds a little emphasis.
Why does siempre come before the verb? Could I say Yo cocino siempre instead?
Yes, you can! In Spanish, words that describe how often you do something (like siempre for always or nunca for never) usually go right before the verb. However, putting it after the verb is also perfectly correct and understood.
Why is it la carne? Doesn't the ending -e mean it is masculine?
Not always! Words ending in -e can be either masculine or feminine, so you have to memorize their gender individually. Carne is feminine, which is why we use la.
Why aren't there any words like la or una before cebolla and ajo?
When you are talking about ingredients in a general sense or an unspecified amount, Spanish usually skips the article. This works exactly like English, where we say 'with onion' rather than 'with the onion'.
How do I pronounce the j in ajo if I want to sound like I am from Spain?
In Spain, the letter j makes a strong, raspy sound in the back of your throat, much like a heavier version of the English 'h' or the 'ch' in the Scottish word 'loch'.

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