B2.24 - At the bakery

Agreement

La concordancia

En una frase, el verbo y el adjetivo deben cambiar para coincidir con el sujeto de la frase.

(In a sentence, the verb and the adjective must change to match the subject of the sentence.)

What this structure is (and why it can feel confusing)

Spanish sometimes uses a noun group as the subject (e.g., los panaderos, los empleados) but the verb is in 1st or 2nd person plural because the group includes us or you.

  • Los panaderos organizamos… = “We bakers…” (the speaker is one of the bakers)
  • Los encargados decidís… = “You managers…” (the listener is in that group)

Think of it as: role/title + we/you hidden inside the sentence.

Two agreements you must check (quick checklist)

  1. Adjective ↔ noun (gender + number)

    • Las ensaimadas quedaron doradas / blandas (feminine plural)
    • El pan quedó dorado (masculine singular)

  2. Verb ↔ “hidden person” (1st/2nd/3rd person)

    • Los panaderos organizamos… (we = nosotros implied)
    • Los encargados decidís… (you all = vosotros implied, Spain)
    • Los proveedores traen… (they = ellos)

How to choose the verb form (nosotros / vosotros / ellos)

Who is included in the group? Verb person Example
The speaker is part of it 1st plural (nosotros) Los empleados controlamos la temperatura.
The listener(s) are part of it 2nd plural (vosotros) Los encargados decidís el menú.
Neither speaker nor listener is included 3rd plural (ellos) Los proveedores traen la harina.

Self-check question: “Am I in this group? Are you in this group?” That answer selects the verb.

When do you add “nosotros / vosotros” in front?

Most of the time it’s optional, because the verb already shows the person. Add the pronoun mainly for:

  • Emphasis or contrast:

Nosotros los panaderos preparamos el pedido, no los proveedores.

  • Clarity when it could be misread as 3rd person:

Vosotros los encargados decidís el menú.

Important punctuation with “ellos” + a specific noun

You can start with ellos, but if you then name the specific group, it works like an “extra label” and must go between commas:

  • Correct: Ellos, los proveedores, traen la harina.
  • Wrong: Ellos los proveedores traen la harina.

Common errors to avoid (fast fixes)

  • Error 1: adjective doesn’t match the noun

    Las ensaimadas salieron demasiado blando. → Las ensaimadas salieron demasiado blandas.

  • Error 2: verb in 3rd person when the speaker is included

    Los panaderos organizan el catering. (sounds like “They bakers…”) → Los panaderos organizamos… (“We bakers…”)

  • Error 3: mixing pronoun and verb person

    Nosotros los encargados decidís… → Nosotros los encargados decidimos…

One-minute self-test before you speak

  1. Underline the group noun: los empleados / los encargados / los proveedores
  2. Ask: Am I in that group? Are you in that group?
  3. Pick the verb: -amos/-emos/-imos (we) or -áis/-éis (you plural) or -an/-en (they)
  4. Match adjectives: -o/-a/-os/-as
CasoEjemplo
El adjetivo coincide con el nombre (género y número) (The adjective agrees with the noun (gender and number))Las ensaimadas quedaron doradas después de salir del horno. (The ensaimadas turned golden after coming out of the oven.)
El grupo incluye al hablante (nosotros implícito) (The group includes the speaker (implicit nosotros))Los panaderos organizamos el catering del evento. (We the bakers organized the event catering.)
El grupo incluye al oyente (vosotros implícito) (The group includes the listener (implicit vosotros))Los encargados decidís el menú del sábado. (You the managers decide Saturday’s menu.)
El nombre es precedido por el pronombre correspondiente (nosotros / vosotros) (The noun is preceded by the corresponding pronoun (nosotros / vosotros))Nosotros los empleados controlamos la temperatura del horno. (We the employees monitor the oven temperature.)

Exceptions!

  1. El pronombre (nosotros / vosotros) se usa para dar énfasis o contraste ⇒ Nosotros los panaderos preparamos el pedido, no los proveedores.
  2. Se puede usar ellos al inicio de la frase, pero el nombre específico que lo sigue debe ir entre comas (como información extra) ⇒ Ellos, los proveedores, traen la harina.

Exercise 1: Multiple choice

Instruction: Choose the correct answer

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1. ___ los encargados revisamos el presupuesto antes de encargar la bollería para el evento.

___ the people in charge review the budget before ordering the pastries for the event.

2. Las palmeras quedaron crujientes y doradas, pero las ensaimadas salieron demasiado ___.

The palmeritas turned out crunchy and golden, but the ensaimadas came out too ___.

3. Vosotros los empleados ___ la temperatura del horno mientras yo preparo la crema pastelera.

You, the employees, ___ the oven temperature while I prepare the pastry cream.

4. Ellos, los proveedores, ___ la harina de trigo y la levadura a primera hora.

They, the suppliers, ___ the wheat flour and the yeast first thing in the morning.

Exercise 2: Rewrite the phrases

Instruction: Rewrite each sentence so that the adjective and the verb agree with the subject (group with “we/you” implied or using the emphatic pronoun when necessary).

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  1. Los camareros preparé las mesas antes del servicio.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Los camareros preparamos las mesas antes del servicio.
    (The waiters set the tables before service.)
  2. Los responsables de sala controláis el aforo hoy.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Los responsables de sala controlan el aforo hoy.
    (The floor managers check the capacity today.)
  3. Los pasteles salió delicioso, pero llegaron frías a la mesa.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Los pasteles salieron deliciosos, pero llegaron fríos a la mesa.
    (The cakes came out delicious, but they arrived cold at the table.)
  4. Los proveedores, traemos la harina a primera hora.
    ⇒ ____________________________________________________________________________________________________ Example
    Los proveedores traen la harina a primera hora.
    (The suppliers bring the flour first thing in the morning.)

Exercise 3: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct sentence with proper agreement.

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1.
Incorrect: with «nosotros» the verb must be in the 1st person plural («decidimos»), not in the 2nd person («decidís»).
2.
Incorrect: the adjective must agree in gender and number with the noun «las tartas» —that’s why «esponjosas» is needed."

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Alessia Amoroso

Master of Languages, Cultures, Communication

Università degli Studi di Modena e Reggio Emilia

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Last Updated:

Saturday, 23/05/2026 12:55