Learn Spanish (Spain): Este cuchillo es inútil: no corta nada. - This knife is useless: it doesn't cut anything.

Este cuchillo es inútil: no corta nada.

This knife is useless: it doesn't cut anything.

Breakdown of Este cuchillo es inútil: no corta nada.

this (m.sg., also esta, estos, estas, esto)

nada

nothing / anything (in negative contexts)

Questions & Answers about Este cuchillo es inútil: no corta nada.

Why do we use es instead of está here? If the knife is just blunt right now, isn't that a temporary state?

In Spanish, adjectives like inútil (useless) and útil (useful) generally use ser because they describe the inherent purpose, quality, or classification of an object. Even if the knife became useless over time by getting blunt, you are classifying its overall utility, not describing a temporary mood or passing state.

Could I use esto instead of este since a knife is an inanimate object?

No, you must use este. Even though a knife is a physical object, the word cuchillo is a specific masculine noun. Esto is the neuter form, which is only used for abstract ideas, unidentified objects, or general situations. When identifying a specific masculine noun, always use este.

Why does the sentence use no corta nada instead of just corta nada?

Spanish requires a double negative when the negative word, like nada, comes after the verb. Because nada is after the verb corta, you must put no in front of the verb. If you wanted to drop the no, you would have to put nada before the verb (nada corta), but that structure sounds much less natural in this context.

The English translation says 'it doesn't cut anything', but doesn't nada mean nothing?