conversion

Question

Somebody please explain why we say "¿Es este tu libro?", but "¿Ella es tu hermana?". Why can´t we say "¿Es ella tu hermana?". Thanks in advance.

welcome to the forum, :) - 006595c6, Sep 15, 2017

Answer 1

But you can say: "¿es ella tu hermana?"

Technically, this is not an odd way to say this, this is actually a perfectly correct way to ask a question.

However, we are a weird lot...as we don't use pronouns, it sounds odd to us when somebody does.

The more common way to ask is simply:

¿Es tu hermana?

The emphasis would fall on "hermana".

However :

¿Es ella tu hermana?

¿Ella es tu hermana?

¿Es esta tu hermana?

...are all correct and common. In all cases, using the pronoun is a way to emphasize like in pointing out a person in a group.

Answer 2

You can say it differently by using the possessive pronouns. For example/ ¿Este el libro tuyo?
Here's a link to possessive pronouns provided by SpanishDict

@jkk97, I had to edit your post so that it's clickable. - NKM1974, Sep 16, 2017

Answer 3

In English we sometimes change the order of words in a sentence to distinguish between a question and a statement....for example....

This is your book! (Statement) Is this your book? (Question)

¿Es tu libro?

....Spanish doesn't really make the same distinction generally speaking. As others have said, only use the pronoun in certain circumstances.

Answer 4

You can say it differently by using the possessive pronouns. For example/ ¿Este el libro tuyo?

Hi jk, well, this is not correct.

I guess you meant:

¿Este libro es tuyo?

¿Es este libro tuyo?

Answer 5

But you can say: "¿es ella tu hermana?" Sounds a bit odd, but it is not incorrect.

Answer 6

Este in this case means "this" Is this your book?"

Ella means "she" Is she your sister?

You should get ahold of a Spanish I book, this material is usually explained in the first few lessons.

Or even on the first lesson on spanishdict . How are you mi amor ? - ray76, Sep 15, 2017