Pushing back on an unrealistic timeline | Learn Spanish in English

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Use Pushing back on an unrealistic timeline to practice Spanish conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

El calendario propuesto parece ambicioso, teniendo en cuenta los problemas de pruebas aún sin resolver.

ehl kah-lehn-DAH-ryoh proh-PWEHS-toh pah-REH-seh ahm-bee-see-OH-soh, teh-NYEHN-doh ehn KWEHN-tah lohs proh-BLEH-mahs deh PROO-eh-bahs ah-OON seen reh-sohl-BEHR. The proposed timeline feels ambitious, given the unresolved testing issues.

Comparto esa preocupación, aunque la dirección quiere mantener el impulso antes de la revisión.

kohm-PAR-toh EH-sah preh-oh-koo-pah-see-OHN, OWN-keh lah dee-rehk-see-OHN KYEH-reh mahn-teh-NEHR ehl eem-POOL-soh AHN-tehs deh lah reh-bee-see-OHN. I share that concern, though leadership wants momentum before the review.

El impulso se verá afectado si lanzamos algo inestable.

ehl eem-POOL-soh seh beh-RAH ah-fehk-TAH-doh see LAHN-sah-mohs AHL-goh een-ehs-TAH-bleh. Momentum will suffer if we release something unstable.

Lo entiendo, pero retrasarlo sin pruebas podría debilitar nuestros argumentos.

loh ehn-TYEHN-doh, PEH-roh reh-trahs-AHR-loh seen PROO-eh-bahs poh-DREE-ah deh-bee-lee-TAR NWEHS-trohs ahr-goo-MEHN-tohs. I understand, yet delaying without evidence may weaken our case.

Podemos reunir pruebas dando prioridad a las pruebas más arriesgadas.

poh-DEH-mohs reh-oo-NEER PROO-eh-bahs DAHN-doh pree-oh-ree-DAHD ah lahs PROO-eh-bahs mahs ah-RYEHS-gah-dahs. We can gather evidence by prioritizing the riskiest tests.

Eso haría que la conversación fuera más objetiva y menos defensiva.

EH-soh ah-REE-ah keh lah kohm-behr-sah-see-OHN FWEH-rah mahs ohb-heh-TEE-bah ee MEH-nohs deh-fehn-SEE-bah. That would make the discussion more objective and less defensive.

Un resumen de riesgos basado en los resultados actuales respaldaría esa idea.

oon reh-SOO-mehn deh RYEHS-gohs bah-SAH-doh ehn lohs reh-sool-TAH-dohs ahk-too-AH-lehs rehs-pahl-dah-REE-ah EH-sah ee-DEH-ah. A risk summary based on current results would support that.

Puedo llevar ese resumen a la reunión.

PWEH-doh yeh-BAR EH-seh reh-SOO-mehn ah lah reh-oo-NYOHN. I can bring that summary to the meeting.

Así podremos tomar una decisión práctica.

ah-SEE poh-DREH-mohs toh-MAHR OO-nah deh-see-SYOHN PRAHK-tee-kah. So we can make a practical decision.

Word by Word

El “El” means “the” here and introduces the singular masculine noun “calendario”. It is used before a specific thing being discussed, as in “el calendario” or “el problema”.

calendario “Calendario” means the project timeline or schedule here. In this context it refers to the planned timing of the work, and it commonly appears with a project or delivery context, as in “el calendario propuesto”.

propuesto “Propuesto” means “proposed” here and describes “calendario” as a schedule that someone has suggested. It is useful before a noun when identifying a suggested plan, such as “el calendario propuesto”.

parece “Parece” means “seems” here, expressing an assessment that the timeline appears ambitious rather than stating it as an absolute fact. A common pattern is “parece” followed by an adjective, as in “parece ambicioso”.

ambicioso “Ambicioso” means “ambitious” here, describing the proposed timeline as demanding or difficult to achieve. It can describe a plan, goal, or schedule, as in “un objetivo ambicioso”.

teniendo en cuenta “Teniendo en cuenta” means “taking into account” or “given” here and introduces the issues considered when judging the timeline. The whole expression includes “teniendo”, “en”, and “cuenta”, and it commonly comes before the factor being considered, as in “teniendo en cuenta los resultados”.

los “Los” means “the” here and introduces the plural noun “problemas”. It is used before specific masculine plural things, as in “los problemas” or “los resultados”.

problemas “Problemas” means “problems” or “issues” here, specifically unresolved testing issues. It commonly appears with “de” to identify the area involved, as in “problemas de pruebas”.

de “De” links “problemas” with “pruebas” here, showing what kind of problems they are: testing problems. This pattern is commonly used to identify a type, subject, or area, as in “problemas de comunicación”.

pruebas “Pruebas” means tests or testing here, referring to project checks whose issues remain unresolved. It can be used after “de” to specify the area of a problem, and it can also refer to evidence in “reunir pruebas”.

aún “Aún” means “still” here, showing that the testing problems remain unresolved at this point. It commonly appears before a phrase describing a continuing state, as in “aún sin resolver”.

sin “Sin” means “without” here and introduces the condition that the problems have not been resolved. A common pattern is “sin” followed by an infinitive, as in “sin resolver”.

resolver “Resolver” means “to resolve” here, and after “sin” it describes the action that has not yet happened. The pattern “sin resolver” is used for an issue that remains open or unsettled.

Comparto “Comparto” means “I share” here, expressing that the speaker has the same concern as the other person. It commonly takes an opinion, feeling, or concern as its object, as in “comparto esa preocupación”.

esa “Esa” means “that” here and points to the concern just being discussed. It appears directly before the feminine noun “preocupación”, as in “esa preocupación”.

preocupación “Preocupación” means “concern” here, referring to the speaker’s worry about the proposed timeline. It can be used with “compartir” when agreeing that another person has the same concern.

aunque “Aunque” means “although” or “though” here and introduces a point that contrasts with the shared concern. It commonly connects two statements that remain true despite the contrast.

la “La” means “the” here and introduces the singular feminine noun “dirección”. It is used before a specific feminine singular noun, as in “la dirección” or “la reunión”.

dirección “Dirección” means leadership or management here, referring to the people responsible for guiding the organization or project. In this context it is used as the subject of what leadership wants, as in “la dirección quiere”.

quiere “Quiere” means “wants” here and states what leadership wants to happen. It commonly appears before an infinitive to express a desired action, as in “quiere mantener el impulso”.

mantener “Mantener” means “to maintain” or “to keep” here, describing the effort to preserve momentum before the review. After “quiere”, it remains in the infinitive, as in “quiere mantener”.

impulso “Impulso” means momentum here, referring to continued progress on the project. It commonly appears with “mantener” when describing the preservation of progress, as in “mantener el impulso”.

antes “Antes” means “before” here and places the review after the desired period of maintaining momentum. It commonly appears with “de” plus a noun, as in “antes de la revisión”.

revisión “Revisión” means “review” here, referring to the upcoming project review. It appears in the time expression “antes de la revisión”, which identifies when something should happen.

se “Se” helps form the construction “se verá afectado” here, in which “el impulso” is presented as being affected. It should be understood together with the following verb and participle rather than translated as a separate “it”.

verá “Verá” contributes the future meaning in “se verá afectado”: the momentum will be affected if the unstable item is released. The construction “se verá afectado” is useful for describing a future impact on something.

afectado “Afectado” means “affected” here and describes the future condition of “el impulso”. It commonly appears after “verse” in a construction such as “se verá afectado” to describe an impact or consequence.

si “Si” means “if” here and introduces the condition under which momentum will suffer. It commonly connects a condition with its possible result, as in “si lanzamos algo inestable”.

lanzamos “Lanzamos” means “we release” here, referring to putting the unstable item into use or making it available. It commonly takes the thing being released as its object, as in “lanzamos algo nuevo”.

algo “Algo” means “something” here and refers generally to the item that might be released. It is useful when the specific object is unspecified, as in “lanzar algo”.

inestable “Inestable” means “unstable” here and describes the unspecified thing as not reliable enough for release. It can follow “algo” to describe an unspecified item, as in “algo inestable”.

Lo “Lo” means “it” or “that” here and refers back to the concern or point the other speaker has made. In “Lo entiendo”, it is placed before the verb to express understanding of that previously mentioned idea.

entiendo “Entiendo” means “I understand” here, acknowledging the other speaker’s concern before adding a qualification. It commonly appears with “lo” when referring to a previously stated point, as in “Lo entiendo”.

pero “Pero” means “but” here and introduces a qualification or opposing consideration. It commonly joins an acknowledgement with a reason for taking a different or more cautious position.

retrasarlo “Retrasarlo” means “delaying it” here, referring to postponing the release or decision under discussion. It combines “retrasar” with the attached object pronoun “lo”; this form is used when the postponed thing is already understood.

podría “Podría” means “could” or “might” here, presenting a possible consequence rather than a certain one. It commonly appears before an infinitive to describe a potential effect, as in “podría debilitar”.

debilitar “Debilitar” means “to weaken” here, describing how delaying without evidence could make the team’s case less strong. It commonly takes an argument, position, or case as its object, as in “debilitar nuestros argumentos”.

nuestros “Nuestros” means “our” here and identifies the arguments as belonging to the speakers’ team. It appears before the plural masculine noun “argumentos”, as in “nuestros argumentos”.

argumentos “Argumentos” means “arguments” or “case” here, referring to the reasons the team can present in the discussion. It commonly appears with possessives when identifying whose case is being discussed, as in “nuestros argumentos”.

Podemos “Podemos” means “we can” here and introduces a feasible proposal for gathering evidence. It commonly comes before an infinitive, as in “podemos reunir”.

reunir “Reunir” means “to gather” or “to collect” here, referring to collecting evidence from the tests. It commonly takes evidence, information, or results as its object, as in “reunir pruebas”.

dando “Dando” means “giving” here and explains how the team can gather evidence: by giving priority to certain tests. The pattern “dando prioridad a” is used to describe the method of prioritizing something.

prioridad “Prioridad” means “priority” here, referring to the importance assigned to the riskiest tests. The reusable expression “dar prioridad a” is followed by the person or thing that should be prioritized.

a “A” completes the expression “dando prioridad a” here and introduces the tests receiving priority. In this pattern, it comes directly before the prioritized person or thing.

las “Las” means “the” here and introduces the feminine plural noun “pruebas”. It is used before specific feminine plural things, as in “las pruebas más arriesgadas”.

más “Más” means “most” here and helps form the superlative expression “las más arriesgadas”. It commonly comes before an adjective when identifying the items with the greatest degree of a quality.

arriesgadas “Arriesgadas” means “risky” here and, with “las más”, identifies the tests considered the riskiest. It describes feminine plural “pruebas”, and the pattern “las más arriesgadas” can identify the highest-risk items in a group.

Eso “Eso” means “that” here and refers to the proposed approach of prioritizing the riskiest tests. It can stand alone as the subject when referring to an idea or action just mentioned, as in “Eso haría”.

haría “Haría” means “would make” here and presents a possible result of the proposed testing approach. It commonly appears in “haría que” followed by a clause describing the resulting change.

que “Que” introduces the clause describing the result in “haría que la conversación fuera más objetiva”. It is part of the construction “hacer que” and links the action to the change it would cause.

conversación “Conversación” means “conversation” or “discussion” here, referring to the project discussion between the coworkers. It appears as the subject of the change in “que la conversación fuera más objetiva”.

fuera “Fuera” means “were” here within the hypothetical result “haría que la conversación fuera más objetiva”. It describes the conversation’s possible resulting quality after the proposed approach is used.

objetiva “Objetiva” means “objective” here, describing a discussion guided more by evidence and less by personal defensiveness. It agrees with the feminine noun “conversación” and commonly describes a discussion, assessment, or decision.

y “Y” means “and” here and connects the two qualities expected from the discussion: being more objective and less defensive. It commonly joins parallel adjectives or ideas.

menos “Menos” means “less” here and reduces the degree of the quality expressed by “defensiva”. It commonly appears before an adjective, as in “menos defensiva”.

defensiva “Defensiva” means “defensive” here, describing a discussion that is less focused on protecting positions or reacting personally. It agrees with “conversación” and can describe the tone of a discussion.

Un “Un” means “a” here and introduces one risk summary that has not yet been specified. It is used before the singular masculine noun “resumen”, as in “un resumen”.

resumen “Resumen” means “summary” here, referring to a concise presentation of the project risks and current results. It commonly takes the topic being summarized, as in “un resumen de riesgos”.

riesgos “Riesgos” means “risks” here, identifying the subject of the summary. It follows “de” in the common pattern “un resumen de riesgos”.

basado “Basado” means “based” here and describes the summary as relying on the current results. It commonly appears with “en” to identify the information or evidence supporting something, as in “basado en los resultados”.

en “En” means “on” or “in” here and introduces the results on which the summary is based. The pattern “basado en” is commonly used to identify a source or basis.

resultados “Resultados” means “results” here, referring to the findings currently available from the testing. It commonly follows “basado en” when identifying the evidence supporting an assessment or summary.

actuales “Actuales” means “current” here and specifies that the results are the ones available now. It agrees with plural “resultados” and commonly describes information or data that reflects the present situation.

respaldaría “Respaldaría” means “would support” here, expressing that the risk summary could strengthen the proposed evidence-based approach. It commonly takes an idea, decision, or position as its object, as in “respaldaría esa idea”.

idea “Idea” means “idea” here and refers to the proposal to use testing evidence in the discussion. It commonly appears after “esa” when pointing back to a suggestion just mentioned.

Puedo “Puedo” means “I can” here and expresses the speaker’s ability or willingness to bring the summary. It commonly comes before an infinitive, as in “puedo llevar”.

llevar “Llevar” means “to bring” here, referring to taking the summary to the meeting. It commonly takes the item being brought and the destination, as in “llevar ese resumen a la reunión”.

reunión “Reunión” means “meeting” here, referring to the project meeting where the summary will be presented. It appears after “a la” to identify the destination of bringing the summary.

Así “Así” means “so” or “in this way” here and introduces the intended result of bringing the summary to the meeting. It commonly connects an action with the practical outcome it is meant to achieve.

podremos “Podremos” means “we will be able to” here, describing the future ability to make a decision after using the summary. It commonly comes before an infinitive, as in “podremos tomar”.

tomar “Tomar” means “to make” here in the expression “tomar una decisión”. Although it can have other meanings in different contexts, this expression is used for making a decision.

una “Una” means “a” here and introduces the singular feminine noun “decisión”. It is used before an unspecified feminine singular noun, as in “una decisión práctica”.

decisión “Decisión” means “decision” here, referring to the practical choice the team will make. It commonly appears with “tomar” in the reusable expression “tomar una decisión”.

práctica “Práctica” means “practical” here and describes a decision that can be applied effectively to the project situation. It agrees with the feminine noun “decisión” and commonly describes a useful or workable choice.

Grammar Points

teniendo en cuenta + sustantivo

teniendo en cuenta los problemas

teh-NYEHN-doh ehn KWEHN-tah lohs proh-BLEH-mahs

taking the problems into account

This gerund phrase means “taking into account” and is followed by the relevant noun.

-ría (condicional)

respaldaría la decisión

rehs-pahl-dah-REE-ah lah deh-see-SYOHN

would support the decision

The conditional ending -ría expresses a hypothetical result or a softened statement.

Spanish Vocabulary

ambicioso adj

ahm-bee-see-OH-soh ambitious

parece ambicioso

calendario noun

kah-lehn-DAH-ryoh timeline; schedule

El calendario propuesto

comparto verb

kohm-PAR-toh I share

Comparto esa preocupación

dirección noun

dee-rehk-see-OHN leadership; management

la dirección quiere mantener el impulso

impulso noun

eem-POOL-soh momentum; drive

El impulso se verá afectado

mantener verb

mahn-teh-NEHR to maintain; to keep

mantener el impulso

preocupación noun

preh-oh-koo-pah-see-OHN concern

esa preocupación

problemas noun

proh-BLEH-mahs problems; issues

los problemas de pruebas

propuesto adj

proh-PWEHS-toh proposed

El calendario propuesto

revisión noun

reh-bee-see-OHN review

antes de la revisión

sin resolver phrase

seen reh-sohl-BEHR unresolved

problemas de pruebas aún sin resolver

teniendo en cuenta phrase

teh-NYEHN-doh ehn KWEHN-tah taking into account; given

teniendo en cuenta los problemas

Quiz

Word Order

Arrange the words in the correct order.

So we can make a practical decision.

Show Answer

Así podremos tomar una decisión práctica.

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

concern

Show Answer

preocupación

I share

Show Answer

comparto

proposed

Show Answer

propuesto

leadership; management

Show Answer

dirección