Phrase · 🤝 Negotiating and reaching agreements
En el plazo podemos ser flexibles; en la calidad, no.
We can be flexible on the deadline, but not on quality.
C1conceding with limitsAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Enprepositionin, on, ateldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definiteplazo1noundeadline, periodmasc. · sing.podemosverbwe canpoder · present · 1st pl.serverbto beinfinitiveflexibles2adjectiveflexibleflexible · pl.;enprepositionin, on, atladeterminertheel · fem. · sing. · definitecalidadnounqualityfem. · sing.,no3adverbnot, no.
- podemos → ser: poder + infinitive
- flexibles → podemos: pl. (nosotros)
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1The topic comes first: en el plazo… en la calidad…, contrasting two issues. Topicalisation, clitic doubling and lo as an attribute →
- 2flexibles agrees with the plural subject, nosotros.
- 3Ellipsis: en la calidad, no = but not on quality.