Phrase · 😔 Regrets and reproaches
Nunca debí prestarle el carro a mi primo.
I never should have lent my car to my cousin.
B2regretting reproachinginformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Nuncaadverbneverdebí1verbI should (have)deber · past · 1st sing.prestarle2verblend (him)prestar · infinitiveeldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitecarronouncarmasc. · sing.a2prepositiontomideterminermy1st sing.primonouncousinmasc. · sing..
- debí → prestarle: obj
- prestarle → carro: obj
- prestarle → primo: ref
- primo → mi: agree
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Nunca debí + infinitive = I never should have…: the preterite of deber is a very common way to voice regret in Latin America. Preterite I: regular verbs, ser/ir, dar, ver →
- 2prestarle … a mi primo: le doubles the indirect object. Prestar = to lend. Indirect object pronouns and doubling →
Variations
- Nunca debería haberle prestado el carro a mi primo.
- Nunca le debí prestar el carro a mi primo.