Phrase · 🫂 Difficult conversations
A lo mejor no me expliqué bien; déjame intentarlo de nuevo.
Maybe I didn't explain myself well; let me try again.
C2de escalatingAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
A1preposition(at)lo1determiner(the)el · definitemejor1adjectivemaybe (lit. best)sing.noadverbnotme2pronoun(myself)yo · 1stexpliqué2verbI explainedexplicar · past · 1st sing.bienadverbwell;déjame3verblet medejar · imperative · 2nd sing.intentarlo3verbtry (it)intentar · infinitivede3preposition(of)nuevo3adjectiveagain (lit. new)masc. · sing..
- A → mejor: a lo mejor: maybe (+ indicative)
- me → expliqué: explicarse: make yourself clear
- déjame → intentarlo: dejar + infinitive
- de → nuevo: de nuevo: again
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1a lo mejor = maybe, and it takes the indicative: a lo mejor no me expliqué. Taking some blame lowers the tension. Opinion, certainty and possibility: indicative or subjunctive →
- 2explicarse = to make yourself clear. Latin America: preterite me expliqué; Spain: no me he explicado bien. Present perfect vs preterite (Spain vs Latin America) →
- 3déjame + infinitive = let me…; intentarlo = try it; de nuevo = again. Negative imperative and imperative with pronouns →
Variations
- Igual no me expliqué bien; déjame intentarlo otra vez.
- Quizás no me he explicado bien; déjame intentarlo de nuevo.
- Perdona, creo que no me expliqué bien.