Phrase · 🎩 Polite requests and permission
Quería saber si tienen mesa para cuatro esta noche.
I was wondering if you have a table for four tonight.
B1making polite requestsAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Quería1verbI wantedquerer · imperfect · 1st sing.saberverbto knowinfinitivesi2conjunctionif, whethertienen2verbyou havetener · present · 3rd pl.mesanountablefem. · sing.paraprepositionforcuatrodeterminerfouresta3determinerthiseste · fem. · sing.noche3nounnightfem. · sing..
- Quería → saber: querer + infinitive
- saber → si: saber si
- tienen → mesa: tener mesa
- esta → noche: f. sg.
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1quería: imperfect of politeness, softer than quiero (on the phone, at a counter). Imperfect: forms and uses →
- 2saber si + indicative: an indirect yes/no question. Tienen = ustedes (the restaurant). Reported speech I and indirect questions →
- 3esta noche = tonight. Demonstratives and place words: este, ese, aquel →
Variations
- Quería reservar una mesa para cuatro esta noche.
- ¿Tienen mesa para cuatro esta noche?