Phrase · 🤨 Expressing reservations
Está por ver si cumplen lo que prometen.
It remains to be seen whether they keep their promises.
C1withholding judgementAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Estáverb(está por ver) remains (to be seen)estar · present · 3rd sing.por1prepositionfor, by, through, because ofververbto seeinfinitivesi2conjunctionif, whethercumplenverbthey keep, they fulfilcumplir · present · 3rd pl.lo3determinerthe (neuter)el · definitequepronounthat, which, whoprometenverbthey promiseprometer · present · 3rd pl..
- Está → ver: estar por + infinitive
- cumplen → lo: object
Word for word: “It is yet to see whether they fulfil what they promise.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1estar por + infinitive = still to be done: está por ver = it remains to be seen.
- 2si = whether: an indirect question, in the indicative. Reported speech I and indirect questions →
- 3lo que = what: cumplir lo que prometen. Relative clauses I: que, quien, donde, lo que →