Spanish grammar
Describing objects
Describe an object: what it is made of, its shape, its condition.
From the scene La pista de madera (The wooden clue)
In short
Say what something is made of with ser + de: es de madera. Shape takes ser; condition takes estar: está roto.
- it's made of wood es de madera
- plastic / metal de plástico / de metal
- it's round es redondo
- it's broken está roto
Your turn
Which one goes with plastic / metal?
Options: es redondo · de plástico / de metal · es de madera
Show answer
plastic / metal → de plástico / de metal
How it works
Say what something is made of with ser + de + material: es de madera / de plástico / de metal.
Good to know
Shape goes with ser (es redondo); condition goes with estar (está roto).
it's made of wood es de madera
Elena
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y (blank). No es de plástico.
Options: es redondo · está roto · es de madera
Show answer
Elena
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
plastic / metal de plástico / de metal
Elena
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Y es de madera. No es (blank).
Options: es redondo · está roto · de plástico
Show answer
Elena
Y es de madera. No es de plástico.
And it's made of wood. It's not plastic.
it's round es redondo
it's broken está roto
Elena
Sí, y está roto.
Yes, and it's broken.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Sí, y (blank).
Options: es de madera · de plástico · está roto
Show answer
Elena
Sí, y está roto.
Yes, and it's broken.
Common mistake
Not redonda or redondos here. El botón = masculine singular.
¿A ver? Es pequeño y redondo.
Let's see? It's small and round.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| it's made of wood | es de madera |
|---|---|
| plastic / metal | de plástico / de metal |
| it's round | es redondo |
| it's broken | está roto |
More lines from the story
- Nuria¿A ver? Es pequeño y redondo.Let's see? It's small and round.
- ElenaSí, pero el mío tiene botones de oro.Yes, but mine has gold buttons.
- ElenaDe un abrigo viejo... como el de la sombra.From an old coat... like the shadow's.
- ElenaMira, Nuria. El botón de la escalera.Look, Nuria. The button from the stairs.