Breakdown of Lea el texto y, a continuación, conteste a las preguntas.
y
and
leer
to read
a
to
contestar
to answer
la pregunta
the question
el texto
the text
a continuación
next, right after this
Questions & Answers about Lea el texto y, a continuación, conteste a las preguntas.
Why do we use lea and conteste instead of lee and contesta?
Lea (from leer) and conteste (from contestar) are the formal commands used for usted. In Spanish, written instructions on tests, textbooks, or forms usually use the formal usted form to sound polite and professional. Notice how the vowel endings swap to form the command: the -er verb gets an -a ending, and the -ar verb gets an -e ending.
What exactly does the phrase a continuación mean?
It translates to "next," "following that," or "then." It is a very common, slightly formal connecting phrase used to give a sequence of instructions or to introduce what is coming up next.
Why is there an a in conteste a las preguntas? Can I just say conteste las preguntas?
Yes, you can! When contestar means "to answer" a question, a letter, or a call, you can use it directly with the object (conteste las preguntas) or with the preposition a (conteste a las preguntas). Both are perfectly correct and widely used in Spain.
Why are there commas surrounding a continuación?
Similar to English, transitional phrases that interrupt the main flow of a sentence are set off by commas. Because a continuación is inserted right after the conjunction y (and), it gets wrapped in commas to indicate a brief pause.
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