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Phrase · 📜 Narrating past events

Quise llamarte, pero no tenía señal.

I tried to call you, but I had no signal.

B1narrating past eventsinformalAudio · coming soon
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Why every word is where it is

Quise1verbI triedquerer · past · 1st sing.llamarte2verbto call youllamar · infinitive,peroconjunctionbutnoadverbnottenía3verbI hadtener · imperfect · 1st sing.señal3nounsignalfem. · sing..
  • Quise → llamarte: quise + infinitive = tried
  • tenía → señal: object of tener

Why it's built this way

The notes match the numbers above.

  1. 1
    quise + infinitive: preterite of querer = tried (and failed); quería = wanted. Narrative past system: pluperfect, past progressive, iba a →
  2. 2
    llamarte: te attached to the infinitive = te quise llamar. Direct object pronouns and personal a →
  3. 3
    no tenía señal: imperfect for the situation; señal is feminine. Imperfect: forms and uses →

Variations

  • Traté de llamarte, pero no tenía señal.
  • Quise llamarte, pero me quedé sin batería.