Question 1

Why is it desayunas instead of something like tienes desayuno for "have breakfast"?

Accepted Answer

In English, we use a verb plus a noun ("have breakfast"). In Spanish, there is a dedicated verb for this action: desayunar (to have breakfast). So, desayunas is the "you" form and means "you have breakfast".

Question 2

Why is it antes de ir (before to go) instead of using an "-ing" word like yendo (going)?

Accepted Answer

Whenever a verb follows a preposition like de in Spanish, it must be in the infinitive (the base dictionary form ending in -ar, -er, or -ir). English uses "-ing" words here, but Spanish uses the plain infinitive, making it antes de ir.

Question 3

Why does the sentence use al trabajo (to the work) instead of just a trabajo (to work)?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, places like work, school, or church usually require the definite article (el or la) before them. When the preposition a (to) meets the masculine article el (the), they combine into the mandatory contraction al.

Question 4

There is no word for "Do" at the beginning of the sentence. How does this work as a question?

Accepted Answer

Spanish doesn't use helper words like "do" or "does" to form questions. You simply use the normal verb form (desayunas), frame it with question marks, and raise the pitch of your voice at the end when speaking.

¿Desayunas antes de ir al trabajo?

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