Phrase · 😤 Complaints and problems
El anuncio decía que el desayuno estaba incluido; sin embargo, nos lo cobraron aparte.
The ad said breakfast was included; however, they charged us for it separately.
B1complainingAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteanuncionounadmasc. · sing.decía1verbsaiddecir · imperfect · 3rd sing.que1conjunctionthateldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitedesayuno2nounbreakfastmasc. · sing.estaba1verbwasestar · imperfect · 3rd sing.incluidoadjectiveincludedmasc. · sing.;sin3preposition(sin embargo =) howeverembargo3noun(sin embargo =) howevermasc. · sing.,nos4object pronoun(from) us1st pl. · indirect objectlo4object pronounit (breakfast)3rd sing. · direct objectcobraron4verbthey chargedcobrar · past · 3rd pl.aparteadverbseparately.
- decía → estaba: decía que → imperfect
- desayuno → incluido: desayuno → incluido
- sin → embargo: sin embargo
- nos → lo: nos + lo (order)
- lo → desayuno: lo → el desayuno
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1decía que… estaba: the imperfect reports what the ad said, a background fact. Reported speech I and indirect questions →
- 2el desayuno = breakfast.
- 3sin embargo = however: it opens a new clause, after a semicolon or full stop. Connectors and discourse markers B1 →
- 4nos lo cobraron: indirect nos before direct lo (= breakfast); the subject is an unnamed “they”. Double object pronouns (se lo) and clitic placement →
Variations
- El anuncio decía que el desayuno estaba incluido, pero nos lo cobraron aparte.
- La página web decía que el desayuno estaba incluido; sin embargo, nos lo cobraron.