Breakdown of Ella tiene un problema en el hombro.
ella
she / her (after a preposition)
un
a, an, some
el problema
the problem
en
in / on / by (means of transport) / about (after pensar)
tener
to have
el hombro
the shoulder
Questions & Answers about Ella tiene un problema en el hombro.
Why is it un problema and not una problema if the word ends in -a?
Why does the sentence say el hombro (the shoulder) instead of su hombro (her shoulder)?
Is hombro (shoulder) related to the word hombre (man)?
In English we might say she has a problem 'with' her shoulder. Why does Spanish use en here?
The preposition en translates to in, on, or at. While English speakers often say a problem 'with' a body part, Spanish naturally says a problem in or on the body part (en el hombro). You could also say con el hombro (with the shoulder), but en is the most standard and natural choice for physical aches and injuries.
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