escriben la carta

they write the letter

escriben la carta(ehs-kree-behn lah kahr-tah)

phrase

1. (used to express a habitual or potential action; third person plural)

a. they write the letter

Mis hijos están felices. Todos los años por estas fechas, escriben la carta a los Reyes Magos.

My children are excited. Every year around this time, they write the letter to the Three Wise Men.

b. write the letter

Los jefes escriben la carta que enviamos a los clientes todos los meses con la lista de precios.

Our bosses write the letter we send to our clients every month with the price list.

2. (used to express a habitual or potential action; second person plural)

a. you write the letter

Si escriben la carta, yo puedo llevarla al correo después.

If you write the letter, I can take it to the post office afterwards.

3. (used to express a specific action in the present; third person plural)

a. they're writing the letter

¿Qué hacen los niños? - Escriben la carta que la profesora les puso de deberes.

What are the kids doing? - They're writing the letter their teacher gave them as homework.

b. are writing the letter

Ana y Emilia escriben la carta porque quieren mandarla hoy.

Ana and Emilia are writing the letter because they want to send it today.

4. (used to express a specific action in the present; second person plural)

a. you're writing the letter

Escriben la carta, ¿verdad? Tenemos que enviarla hoy sin falta.

You're writing the letter, aren't you? We need to send it today without fail.

5. (used to express a future action; third person plural)

a. they'll write the letter

Las secretarias han dicho que escriben la carta esta semana cuando tengan un momento libre.

The secretaries have said they'll write the letter this week when they have a free moment.

b. will write the letter

Si nadie quiere escribir la carta de disculpa, lo hago yo. - No, Eva y Luis escriben la carta. Lo que pasó fue culpa suya.

If no one wants to write the letter of apology, I'll do it. - No, Eva and Luis will write the letter. What happened was their fault.

6. (used to express a future action; second person plural)

a. you'll write the letter

Escriben la carta a sus amigos mañana. Ahora ya es muy tarde, y tienen que irse a la cama.

You'll write the letter to your friends tomorrow. Now it's very late, and you have to go to bed.