Phrase · 🎤 Debating and turn-taking
Como iba diciendo, la ley por sí sola no basta.
As I was saying, the law alone isn't enough.
C1resuming after an interruptionAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Comoconjunctionas, like; since; if (with subjunctive)iba1verbwas going; (iba diciendo) was sayingir · imperfect · 1st sing.diciendoverbsaying, tellingdecir · gerund,ladeterminertheel · fem. · sing. · definiteleynounlawfem. · sing.porprepositionfor, by, through, because ofsí2pronounoneself3rdsolaadjectivealone; (por sí sola) on its ownsolo · fem. · sing.noadverbnot, nobastaverbis enoughbastar · present · 3rd sing..
- iba → diciendo: ir + gerund
- sola → ley: f. sg.
- basta → ley: subject
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1ir + gerund: como iba diciendo = as I was saying, to pick up your thread. Verbal periphrases III →
- 2por sí sola = on its own: reflexive sí, with an accent; sola agrees with ley. Pronoun nuances: dative of interest, ello, sí / consigo, pronominal verbs →