Model

Question

In "Ella era modelo," why is this not ""Ella era modela"? Is model a masculine word regardless of who is the model?
Ricky

Accepted Answer

Hola Ricky,
The word "modelo" as model is invariable, as you guessed, so it will be modelo for a man and a woman, however we do need to use the appropriate article when it is needed:

"La modelo llevaba un vestido azul largo" (refers to a female model)
"El modelo llevaba una chaqueta vaquera" (refers to a male model)

Saludos
Inma

Answer

Hola Tonya
Sorry about the delay. We didn't receive notification of your message. Just saw it now.
Yes, as the imperfect tense is also used to express a repeated action in the past, you could also translate it as "she used to be a model".
However if you want to emphasise the fact that she was and now she isn't a model any longer we'd probably use verb "soler" for that, saying:
"Ella solía ser modelo"
Saludos
Inma

Answer

For the following  example, could this also be translated as 'She was a model'?Ella era modelo.She used to be a model.