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In the Spanish grammar book I study there was a task to translate the following sentence to Spanish: "I prepare dinner".

I answered: "Preparo una cena".
Correct answer: "Preparo la cena".

Why do we need to use definite article here? In my understanding, if the dinner is not ready yet, you can't refer to it with the definite article, you're preparing some dinner.

I know that in English we don't use artilcles with the names of meals.

Is there some grammar rule I'm missing in Spanish?

Artem
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  • In colloquial English ‘I’m preparing the dinner’ (referring to todsy’s dinner) is pretty common – Traveller Feb 27 '22 at 21:13

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We usually say "preparo la cena" because it is clear which dinner I am referring to: today's dinner. There is only one dinner today.

If the day when the dinner takes place is open, then "una cena" is more common:

  • El que pierda la apuesta tiene que pagar una cena (Whoever loses the bet must pay for a dinner).
wimi
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La cena is the evening meal. If I say preparo la cena, I mean that I am preparing food to be eaten this evening, unless the context indicates that I am talking about a specific dinner for another day.

But if I say preparo una cena, you would probably need more information to know what I am talking about. It may mean that I am preparing a special meal, not necessarily for today, or arranging for one. For instance:

Preparo una cena para el próximo sábado.

This means that I am arranging for a dinner next Saturday, maybe with some friends. I am not necessarily cooking for it; we might be going to a restaurant. If we both already know about that dinner, then I may use the determinate article:

Preparo la cena para el próximo sábado.

When you say I prepare dinner in English, unless there are other context indications, you are talking about dinner for this evening, so the right translation is preparo la cena.

Gorpik
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