Phrase · 🙇 Apologising and making excuses
Iba a pasar por tu casa, pero me surgió un imprevisto.
I was going to drop by your place, but something came up.
B1making excusesinformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Iba1verbI was goingir · imperfect · 1st sing.a1prepositiontopasar2verbdrop byinfinitivepor2prepositionbytudetermineryour2nd sing.casanounhouse, placefem. · sing.,peroconjunctionbutme3object pronoun(to) me1st sing. · indirect objectsurgió3verbcame upsurgir · past · 3rd sing.undeterminerauno · masc. · sing. · indefiniteimprevistonounsomething unexpectedmasc. · sing..
- Iba → pasar: iba a + infinitive
- pasar → por: pasar por
- me → surgió: me → surgir
- imprevisto → surgió: un imprevisto → surgió (3rd sg.)
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1iba a + infinitive: a plan that didn’t happen, the classic start of an excuse. Narrative past system: pluperfect, past progressive, iba a →
- 2pasar por + place = to drop by, stop by. Por and para II →
- 3me surgió = it came up (for me): the unexpected thing is the subject, me the person. Verbs like gustar II: doler, parecer, quedar, importar, molestar, faltar →
Variations
- Iba a pasar por su casa, pero me surgió un imprevisto.
- Te iba a visitar, pero me salió algo urgente.