Phrase · 🎭 Feelings with nuance
Me da pena que te vayas tan pronto; la estábamos pasando tan bien.
I'm sad you're leaving so soon; we were having such a good time.
B2expressing feelingsinformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Meobject pronoun(to) meyo · 1st sing. · indirect objectda1verbgivesdar · present · 3rd sing.pena1nounsadnessfem. · sing.queconjunctionthatte2object pronoun(yourself)tú · 2nd sing. · direct objectvayas2verbyou leaveir · subjunctive · present · 2nd sing.tanadverbsoprontoadverbsoon;la3object pronounit (pasarla bien)él · 3rd sing. · direct objectestábamos3verbwe wereestar · imperfect · 1st pl.pasando3verbhaving (a time)pasar · gerundtanadverbsobienadverbwell.
- pena → vayas: mood
- da → Me: iobj
- vayas → te: agree
- pasando → la: obj
Word for word: “It gives me sorrow that you leave so soon; we were spending it so well.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Me da pena que + subjunctive = I’m sad that. In Mexico, Central America and Colombia pena often means embarrassment; there, me da tristeza is safer. Subjunctive: emotions and reactions →
- 2te vayas: present subjunctive of irse (to leave). Different subjects (I feel, you leave) → que + subjunctive. Subjunctive: emotions and reactions →
- 3pasarla bien = to have a good time (Latin America; Spain says pasarlo bien). The past progressive sets the scene. Narrative past system: pluperfect, past progressive, iba a →