Fill in the blank with the Spanish word that best completes the following sente
A mi papá le
la garganta.
A. doler
B. duele
C. dole
D. dolor
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is B. duele.
Here’s why:
In Spanish, the verb “doler” means “to hurt” or “to cause pain.” When conjugating “doler” to describe something that hurts, the structure is a bit different from regular verbs because it functions similarly to gustar (to like). Instead of directly saying “I hurt” (which would be “yo doler” in English), you express it as “It hurts me,” or “It causes pain to me.”
Breaking it down:
- A mi papá: “To my dad” or “To my father” – this sets up the person who is experiencing the pain.
- le duele: The verb “doler” needs to be conjugated in a way that agrees with the thing that is causing the pain. The singular form “duele” is used when referring to a single part of the body or one item that is causing the pain. Since “la garganta” (the throat) is singular, the correct conjugation is “duele”.
Understanding the answer choices:
- A. doler: This is the infinitive form of the verb “to hurt” and is not correct in this context because you need the conjugated form.
- B. duele: This is the correct conjugated form of “doler” for a singular subject (like “garganta”), indicating that the throat hurts.
- C. dole: This is not a valid conjugation of the verb “doler”.
- D. dolor: This is a noun that means “pain,” but it does not fit grammatically in this sentence, as the sentence requires a conjugated verb, not a noun.
Example for context:
- “A mí me duele la cabeza” – “My head hurts.”
- “A ella le duelen los pies” – “Her feet hurt.” (Notice here the plural form “duelen” because it refers to “feet,” which is plural.)
Thus, the correct answer is B. duele, as it correctly conjugates “doler” to agree with the singular noun “garganta” (throat) in the sentence.