Phrase · 🎙️ Managing the conversation
Volviendo a lo de antes, ¿cuándo empezamos?
Going back to what we were saying, when do we start?
B2managing conversationAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
Volviendo1verbgoing backvolver · gerunda1prepositiontolo2determinerthe (matter)el · sing. · definitede2prepositionfromantes2adverbbefore,¿cuándo3adverbwhenempezamos4verbdo we startempezar · present · 1st pl.?
- Volviendo → a: prep
- lo → de: prep
Word for word: “Returning to the (matter) from before, when do we start?”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Volviendo a + topic: a gerund that brings the conversation back. Here volver a means return to, not again.
- 2lo de antes: neuter lo + de = the matter from before. Neuter lo: lo + adjective, lo de, lo … que →
- 3cuándo keeps its accent in direct and indirect questions. Questions and negation →
- 4empezamos: the present used for the near future. Present tense: spelling-change verbs and other uses of the present →
Variations
- Volviendo a lo que decíamos, ¿cuándo empezamos?
- Retomando lo de antes, ¿cuándo empezamos?