Phrase · ⚠️ Instructions and warnings
Primero se pelan las papas y luego se cortan en trozos.
First you peel the potatoes and then you cut them into pieces.
B1giving instructionsAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Primero1adverbfirstse2pronoun(passive)3rdpelan2verbare peeledpelar · present · 3rd pl.lasdeterminertheel · fem. · pl. · definitepapas3nounpotatoespapa · fem. · pl.yconjunctionandluego1adverbthense2pronoun(passive)3rdcortan2verbare cutcortar · present · 3rd pl.enprepositionintotrozosnounpiecestrozo · masc. · pl..
- se → pelan: passive se
- papas → pelan: las papas → pelan (pl.)
- las → papas: f. pl.
- se → cortan: passive se
- Primero → luego: primero… luego
Word for word: “First the potatoes are peeled and then they are cut into pieces.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1primero… luego put the steps of instructions in order. Connectors and discourse markers B1 →
- 2Recipes use passive se, and the verb agrees with the plural noun: se pelan las papas. Impersonal and passive se; reciprocal se →
- 3la papa = potato in Latin America (Spain: la patata). El papa is the Pope.
Variations
- Primero pela las papas y luego córtalas en trozos.
- Primero se pela la papa y luego se corta en trozos.