Spanish Phrase
Sí, el tubo está vacío.
Meaning
The speaker confirms that a specific tube (e.g., a pipe, a test tube, or any cylindrical container) contains nothing. The verb estar is used because the emptiness is considered a temporary condition rather than an inherent characteristic.
When to use
Use this sentence when someone asks whether a tube is empty, when you are checking the status of a container in a lab, kitchen, or plumbing context, or when you need to confirm that a space is free of contents.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Síeltuboestávacío
Sí (affirmation)
Used to answer positively to a yes‑no question; equivalent to 'yes' in English.
el (definite article)
Masculine singular article that must match the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
tubo (noun)
Masculine singular noun meaning 'tube', 'pipe' or 'test tube'.
está (verb estar)
Third‑person singular present of 'estar', used for temporary states or conditions.
vacío (adjective)
Adjective meaning 'empty'; it agrees in gender and number with the noun (masc. singular → vacío).
🗨In Conversation
¿El tubo está vacío?
Is the tube empty?
Sí, el tubo está vacío.
Yes, the tube is empty.
✕Common Mistakes
Sí, el tubo es vacío.
Use estar, not ser, for temporary states like 'empty'.
Sí, tubo está vacío.
The definite article is required before a specific noun.
Sí, el tubo está vacía.
The adjective must agree with the masculine noun 'tubo'.
↔Alternatives
Sí, está vacío.
Yes, it's empty.
No, el tubo no está vacío.
No, the tube is not empty.
El tubo está sin contenido.
The tube is without content.
Cultural Tip
In Spanish, the choice between ser and estar is crucial. 'Vacío' describing a temporary condition uses estar (está vacío). Using ser (es vacío) would sound odd because it suggests an inherent, permanent quality. Also, 'tubo' can refer to many objects, so make sure the context (lab, kitchen, plumbing) is clear to avoid confusion.