Breakdown of Mi oficina está en la segunda planta.
en
in / on / by (means of transport) / about (after pensar)
estar
to be (location/state)
mi
my
la oficina
the office
la planta
the floor (of a building)
segundo
second
Questions & Answers about Mi oficina está en la segunda planta.
Why is it segunda and not segundo?
Ordinal numbers in Spanish act like adjectives, so they must match the gender and number of the noun they describe. Because planta (floor) is a feminine singular noun, the ordinal number segundo changes to its feminine form, segunda.
Does the ordinal number always go before the noun like in segunda planta?
Yes! Unlike most descriptive adjectives in Spanish (which usually go after the noun), ordinal numbers like segunda almost always go before the noun they modify.
Can I use piso instead of planta to say "floor"?
Yes, you can! In Spain, you will hear both planta and piso. Just remember that if you use piso (which is a masculine noun), the ordinal number has to match it, so you would say segundo piso.
Why do we use está for a building's location? Isn't an office permanent?
Even though the office's location won't change, Spanish always uses the verb estar (to be) when talking about where something is physically located. This rule for locations overrides the "temporary vs. permanent" guideline you might have learned earlier.
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