Spanish Phrase
Comprueba que los detectores de humo funcionan.
Meaning
The sentence is an instruction to verify that the smoke detectors are operational. It is commonly used during safety checks at home, in offices, or before leaving a building to ensure fire‑safety equipment is working correctly.
When to use
Use this phrase when you are performing a routine fire‑safety inspection, after installing new detectors, during a fire drill, or whenever you want to remind someone to test the alarms.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Compruebaquelosdetectoresdehumofuncionan
Imperative (Comprueba)
‘Comprueba’ is the informal second‑person singular imperative of the verb ‘comprobar’, used to give a direct command or instruction.
Subordinating conjunction (que)
‘que’ introduces a subordinate clause that explains what must be checked.
Subject‑verb agreement (funcionan)
‘funcionan’ is the present indicative, third‑person plural form of ‘funcionar’, agreeing with the plural subject ‘los detectores de humo’.
Prepositional phrase (de humo)
‘de humo’ specifies the type of detectors, literally ‘of smoke’.
🗨In Conversation
¿Ya revisaste los detectores de humo?
Did you already check the smoke detectors?
Sí, pero ahora comprueba que los detectores de humo funcionan.
Yes, but now make sure the smoke detectors work.
✕Common Mistakes
Comprueba que los detectores de humo funciona.
The verb must agree with the plural subject ‘los detectores’, so use ‘funcionan’ not ‘funciona’.
Compruebe que los detectores de humo funcionan.
‘Compruebe’ is the formal imperative; it sounds too stiff in casual contexts where ‘Comprueba’ is preferred.
Comprueba que los detectores de los humo funcionan.
The correct prepositional phrase is ‘de humo’; ‘de los humo’ is ungrammatical.
↔Alternatives
Asegúrate de que los detectores de humo estén funcionando.
Make sure the smoke detectors are working.
Verifica que los detectores de humo funcionen.
Verify that the smoke detectors work.
Confirma que los detectores de humo operen correctamente.
Confirm that the smoke detectors operate correctly.
Cultural Tip
In many Spanish‑speaking countries fire‑safety laws require regular checks of smoke detectors, especially in schools and public buildings. The informal imperative ‘Comprueba’ is typical in spoken instructions among friends or coworkers; in a formal notice you might use ‘Verifique’ or ‘Asegúrese de que…’. Also, note that in Latin America the verb ‘funcionar’ is pronounced with an /s/ sound (funciˈonan) rather than the /θ/ used in Spain.