Phrase · 🎩 Elevated register
El otrora poderoso sindicato apenas reúne hoy a cien afiliados.
The once-powerful union now has barely a hundred members.
C2contrasting past and presentformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Eldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteotrora1adverbonce, formerlypoderosoadjectivepowerfulmasc. · sing.sindicatonoununionmasc. · sing.apenas2adverbbarelyreúne3verbgathersreunir · present · 3rd sing.hoyadverbtodaya3preposition(personal a)ciendeterminera hundredafiliadosnounmembersafiliado · masc. · pl..
- otrora → poderoso: otrora modifies poderoso: once powerful
- poderoso → sindicato: poderoso agrees with sindicato
- reúne → a: personal a before people
- sindicato → reúne: el sindicato → reúne (3rd sg.)
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1otrora = once, formerly. Before an adjective (el otrora poderoso) it is typical of the press and essays. Literary and archaic style →
- 2apenas = barely, hardly. "Only" is solo.
- 3reúne: the accent on ú splits eu into two syllables. People as object take the personal a. Direct object pronouns and personal a →
Variations
- El sindicato, otrora poderoso, apenas reúne hoy a cien afiliados.
- El antes poderoso sindicato hoy apenas tiene cien afiliados.
- El sindicato, que antaño fue poderoso, apenas cuenta hoy con cien afiliados.