Phrase · 🤨 Expressing reservations
Yo no pondría la mano en el fuego por él.
I wouldn't vouch for him.
C1refusing to vouch for someoneinformalAudio · coming soon
Why every word is where it is
YopronounI1st sing. · subjectnoadverbnot, nopondría1verbI would putponer · conditional · 1st sing.ladeterminertheel · fem. · sing. · definitemano2nounhandfem. · sing.enprepositionin, on, ateldeterminerthemasc. · sing. · definitefuegonounfiremasc. · sing.por3prepositionfor, by, through, because ofélpronounhe, it3rd sing. · subject.
- Yo → pondría: subject
- pondría → mano: object
- la → mano: f. sg.
Word for word: “I wouldn't put my hand in the fire for him.”
Why it's built this way
The notes match the numbers above.
- 1Irregular conditional of poner: stem pondr-. Conditional: forms and uses →
- 2poner la mano en el fuego por = to vouch for someone.
- 3por + person: on someone's behalf. Por and para I →