marcado
/mar-KAH-doh/
prominent
When something is marcado (prominent), it stands out clearly.
marcado(Adjective)
prominent
?noticeable features
,strong
?accent or flavor
well-defined
?muscles, lines
,distinct
?clear difference
📝 In Action
Tiene un acento gallego muy marcado.
B1He has a very strong Galician accent.
Su estilo de vestir es muy marcado y elegante.
B2Her style of dress is very distinct and elegant.
Después de tanto ejercicio, sus abdominales están muy marcados.
B2After so much exercise, his abs are very defined.
💡 Grammar Points
Agreement is Key
As an adjective, 'marcado' must change its ending to match the thing it describes in both gender (-o/-a) and number (singular/plural).
❌ Common Pitfalls
Forgetting Feminine/Plural Forms
Mistake: "La diferencia fue muy marcado."
Correction: La diferencia fue muy marcada. (Because 'diferencia' is feminine.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use with 'Ser' or 'Estar'
Use 'ser' (es, son) for permanent traits (like an accent) and 'estar' (está, están) for temporary states (like a muscle definition after a workout).
Marcado means 'dialed,' like when you dial a phone number.
📝 In Action
El número marcado no existe.
A2The number dialed does not exist.
Ese fue el único gol marcado en el partido.
B1That was the only goal scored in the match.
La ruta marcada en el mapa es la más rápida.
A2The route marked on the map is the fastest.
💡 Grammar Points
Acting as a Description
Here, 'marcado' acts like an adjective describing the noun (the number, the goal) after it has received the action of 'marking' or 'dialing'.
As a past participle, marcado means 'marked.'
marcado(Past Participle)
marked
?used in perfect tenses (e.g., has marked)
dialed
?used in perfect tenses (e.g., have dialed)
📝 In Action
Ya hemos marcado todos los puntos importantes.
A1We have already marked all the important points.
¿Quién ha marcado este número?
A2Who has dialed this number?
Él había marcado la diferencia antes de irse.
B1He had made (marked) the difference before leaving.
💡 Grammar Points
The Perfect Helper
The past participle 'marcado' is used with the verb 'haber' (to have) to create perfect tenses (like 'I have marked').
It Never Changes
When used with 'haber', the past participle always stays in the masculine singular form ('marcado') regardless of who is doing the action or what is being marked.
❌ Common Pitfalls
Incorrect Agreement with 'Haber'
Mistake: "Hemos marcada la ruta."
Correction: Hemos marcado la ruta. (The participle doesn't agree with the direct object when used with 'haber'.)
⭐ Usage Tips
Use for Passive Voice
When 'marcado' is used with 'ser' (like 'fue marcado'), it forms the passive voice, meaning the object received the action, and in this case, it MUST agree in gender/number.
✏️ Quick Practice
💡 Quick Quiz: marcado
Question 1 of 2
Which sentence correctly uses 'marcada' as an adjective?
📚 More Resources
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between 'marcado' (participle) and 'marcado/a' (adjective)?
When 'marcado' is used with the verb 'haber' (e.g., 'he marcado'), it's the past participle and always ends in -o. When it is used to describe a noun (e.g., 'una diferencia marcada'), it is an adjective and must change to agree with the noun (marcado, marcada, marcados, marcadas).
Can 'marcado' be used for both physical marks and abstract ideas?
Yes! You can talk about a 'marcado' (defined) jawline or a 'marcada' (strong/clear) tendency in the market. It works for both concrete things and abstract concepts.