Pushing back on an unrealistic timeline | Learn Spanish in English

Sentence explanations

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

   The proposed timeline feels ambitious, given the unresolved testing issues.

   calendario

   timeline; calendar

   propuesto

   proposed

   parece

   seems

   ambicioso

   ambitious

   teniendo en cuenta

   taking into account

   problemas

   problems

   pruebas

   testing; tests

   aún

   still; yet

   resolver

   resolve; solve

   More detail

   calendario means “timeline” here, though it can also mean “calendar.” It is a masculine singular noun. The adjective propuesto matches it in gender and number: calendario propuesto = “proposed timeline.” The feminine form would be propuesta with a feminine noun. propuesto is the past participle of proponer (“to propose”). It is used adjectivally here, not as a standalone past-tense verb. Compare un plan propuesto (“a proposed plan”) and una fecha propuesta (“a proposed date”); the ending agrees with the noun. parece is the third-person singular present form of parecer (“to seem” or “to appear”). The pattern algo parece + adjective presents an impression: La tarea parece difícil = “The task seems difficult.” Here, parece ambicioso means that the timeline gives an ambitious impression. ambicioso is a masculine singular adjective agreeing with calendario. Its feminine form is ambiciosa, and its plural forms are ambiciosos and ambiciosas. In this sentence it describes the proposed timeline as ambitious. teniendo en cuenta is a fixed construction meaning “taking into account” or “given.” It introduces a factor considered when making the assessment. For example, Teniendo en cuenta el tiempo, saldremos temprano means “Given the time, we will leave early.” problemas is the plural of problema, “problem” or “issue.” Although it ends in -a, problema is masculine in Spanish, so the plural phrase uses los: los problemas. pruebas is the plural of prueba. In this context it means testing or tests, specifically testing-related issues. The noun can have other context-dependent meanings, such as “proofs” or “trials,” but the fixed translation supports the testing sense here. aún means “still” or “yet.” It marks an unresolved situation that continues up to the relevant point. The phrase aún sin resolver means “still unresolved.” Aún is also commonly written aun in other uses, but the accent here corresponds to the “still/yet” meaning. resolver is the infinitive “to resolve” or “to solve.” In sin resolver, the preposition sin (“without”) is followed by an infinitive, giving the meaning “unresolved” or “not yet resolved.” The phrase describes problemas: the problems have not been resolved. Taken together, El calendario propuesto parece ambicioso says “The proposed timeline seems ambitious.” teniendo en cuenta los problemas de pruebas aún sin resolver adds the factor considered: “given the still-unresolved testing issues.” The complete meaning is therefore: “The proposed timeline feels ambitious, given the unresolved testing issues.” The wording is suitable for a measured assessment rather than a direct assertion that the timeline is definitely unrealistic.

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

   I share that concern, though leadership wants momentum before the review.

   Comparto

   I share

   esa

   that

   preocupación

   concern

   aunque

   although

   dirección

   leadership

   quiere

   wants

   mantener

   to maintain

   impulso

   momentum

   antes de

   before

   revisión

   review

   More detail

   Comparto is the first-person singular present of compartir, “to share.” Here it means that the speaker shares a view or feeling, not that they physically divide something. Example: Comparto tu opinión. — “I share your opinion.” esa means “that” and is a feminine singular demonstrative. It agrees with the feminine singular noun preocupación; its form is not determined by the speaker’s gender. Compare ese with a masculine singular noun and esas with a feminine plural noun. preocupación means “concern” or “worry.” It is a feminine noun, as shown by esa preocupación. The related verb is preocupar, “to worry/concern,” but the noun in this sentence names the concern itself. Example: La preocupación es válida. — “The concern is valid.” aunque introduces a contrast and means “although” or “though.” It does not cancel the first statement: the speaker shares the concern, while the following clause presents a contrasting fact or intention. dirección means “leadership” here, in the sense of the people or group directing the organization. It is a feminine noun, so the full phrase is la dirección. Example: La dirección aprobó el plan. — “Leadership approved the plan.” quiere is the third-person singular present of querer, “to want.” Its subject here is la dirección: “leadership wants.” Querer is followed by an infinitive when the same subject wants to do something: quiere mantener — “wants to maintain.” mantener is an infinitive meaning “to maintain” or “to keep.” After quiere, it expresses the action desired by the subject. Example: Quieren mantener el ritmo. — “They want to maintain the pace.” impulso means “momentum” or “drive” in this context. It is a masculine noun, so the complete noun phrase is el impulso. Example: Necesitamos mantener el impulso. — “We need to maintain momentum.” antes de is a time expression meaning “before.” It is followed here by the noun phrase la revisión. With a verb, Spanish commonly uses antes de plus an infinitive: antes de salir — “before leaving.” revisión means “review.” It is a feminine noun, hence la revisión. The noun can refer to an examination or assessment, as it does here. Example: La revisión empieza mañana. — “The review starts tomorrow.” Together, Comparto esa preocupación means “I share that concern.” aunque then introduces the contrast: la dirección quiere mantener el impulso antes de la revisión means “leadership wants to maintain momentum before the review.” The complete utterance is therefore: “I share that concern, though leadership wants momentum before the review.”

3. El impulso se verá afectado si lanzamos algo inestable.

   Momentum will suffer if we release something unstable.

   impulso

   momentum

   se verá afectado

   will be affected

   lanzamos

   we release

   algo

   something

   inestable

   unstable

   More detail

   impulso is a masculine singular noun. Here it means “momentum,” the forward force or progress that can be maintained or weakened. The article el marks the noun phrase as singular masculine; the noun itself can also mean “impulse” in other contexts, so the intended meaning here comes from the surrounding discussion of maintaining momentum. se verá afectado means “will be affected.” verá is the third-person singular future form of ver (“to see”), but in this construction se ... afectado gives a passive-like result: the momentum will be affected, not that it will see something. afectado is the past participle of afectar and is masculine singular here, agreeing with impulso. A reusable pattern is X se verá afectado/a (“X will be affected”), with the participle agreeing with X. lanzamos is the first-person plural present form of lanzar (“to launch” or “to release”). After si, it introduces the condition: “if we release.” Spanish commonly uses the present indicative in this kind of real or open condition: si + present, followed here by a future result. Example: Si lanzamos el producto, habrá más interés. — “If we launch the product, there will be more interest.” algo is an indefinite pronoun meaning “something.” It refers to an unspecified thing rather than naming the thing directly. It can be followed by an adjective: algo nuevo means “something new.” inestable is a descriptive adjective meaning “unstable.” In this sentence it describes the unspecified thing being released. Its singular form is the same for masculine and feminine nouns; its plural form is inestables. Together, El impulso is the affected thing, se verá afectado expresses the future result, and si lanzamos algo inestable gives the condition causing that result. The complete meaning is: “Momentum will suffer if we release something unstable.”

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

   I understand, yet delaying without evidence may weaken our case.

   Lo entiendo

   I understand

   pero

   but / yet

   retrasarlo

   to delay it

   sin

   without

   pruebas

   evidence

   podría

   could / may

   debilitar

   to weaken

   nuestros

   our

   argumentos

   arguments / case

   More detail

   Lo entiendo means “I understand it.” Entiendo is the first-person singular present form of entender (“to understand”); the subject is the speaker and is included in the verb ending. Lo is a direct-object clitic. In this sentence it refers to an understood matter or point, without the sentence identifying exactly what that matter is. In this use, lo can represent an unspecified or neuter “it/that”; it is not necessarily marking a known masculine noun. In Spanish, the clitic normally comes before a finite verb: Lo entiendo. Pero introduces a contrast: the speaker understands the point, yet gives a different consideration. It does not replace or cancel the first clause. Retrasarlo means “to delay it.” It combines the infinitive retrasar (“to delay”) with the direct-object clitic lo, attached to the end of an infinitive. Here, lo refers to the thing being delayed; the sentence does not specify that thing. Compare the reusable pattern retrasar + lo → retrasarlo. Sin pruebas means “without evidence.” Sin marks absence or lack of something, and pruebas is the plural of prueba, meaning “evidence” in this context. Example: Tomaron la decisión sin pruebas. — “They made the decision without evidence.” Podría is the third-person singular conditional form of poder (“to be able to; may/could”). In this sentence it expresses a possible consequence: delaying may weaken the case. The conditional form is not a command or a statement that the weakening will definitely occur. Debilitar is an infinitive meaning “to weaken.” After a modal verb such as podría, Spanish uses the infinitive: podría debilitar means “could weaken.” Example: La demora podría debilitar el plan. — “The delay could weaken the plan.” Nuestros means “our” and is the masculine-plural possessive form used with the following noun argumentos. Possessives agree with the thing possessed, not with the number or gender of the possessors. The corresponding singular masculine form is nuestro; for a feminine plural noun, Spanish uses nuestras. Argumentos is the plural of argumento, “argument.” In this context, the fixed translation “our case” gives the intended sense: the arguments supporting the speaker’s position. Example: Presentamos nuestros argumentos. — “We presented our arguments.” Together, retrasarlo sin pruebas expresses delaying the unspecified matter while lacking evidence. Podría debilitar nuestros argumentos says that this action may weaken the speaker’s case. The whole utterance therefore means: “I understand, yet delaying without evidence may weaken our case.”

5. Podemos reunir pruebas dando prioridad a las pruebas más arriesgadas.

   We can gather evidence by prioritizing the riskiest tests.

   Podemos

   we can

   reunir

   gather

   pruebas

   evidence

   dando prioridad a

   prioritizing

   las

   the

   pruebas

   tests

   más arriesgadas

   riskiest

   More detail

   Podemos is the present-tense first-person plural form of poder: “we can” or “we are able to.” It identifies the subject as nosotros/nosotras, even though the subject pronoun is omitted. The following infinitive states what is possible. Example: Podemos esperar. — “We can wait.” Reunir is the infinitive “to gather” or “to collect.” After podemos, Spanish uses the infinitive rather than a conjugated verb: podemos reunir = “we can gather.” Example: Podemos reunir más información. — “We can gather more information.” The first pruebas means “evidence” in this sentence. It is a plural feminine noun; the same Spanish noun can also mean “tests” or “trials,” with the intended sense determined by context. Example: Necesitamos pruebas. — “We need evidence.” Dando prioridad a is a reusable pattern meaning “by giving priority to” or “by prioritizing.” Dando is the gerund of dar (“to give”), and prioridad is the noun “priority.” The gerund phrase explains the method used for gathering the evidence. Example: Avanzamos dando prioridad a lo urgente. — “We move forward by prioritizing what is urgent.” Las is the feminine plural definite article, “the.” Here it agrees with the plural feminine noun pruebas; it does not itself state a numerical quantity. The second pruebas means “tests” in the supplied translation. It has the same spelling and grammatical form as the earlier noun, but the surrounding adjective and intended context give it this sense here. Example: Estas pruebas son importantes. — “These tests are important.” Más arriesgadas describes the tests as “riskier” or, in the fixed translation’s ranking, “the riskiest.” Arriesgadas is the feminine plural form of arriesgado, agreeing with pruebas; más marks the comparison. The useful comparison chain is arriesgado (“risky”), más arriesgado (“riskier”), and el/la más arriesgado/a (“the riskiest,” with agreement as needed). Example: Elegimos las opciones más seguras. — “We choose the safest options.” Together, Podemos reunir pruebas says “We can gather evidence.” Dando prioridad a las pruebas más arriesgadas gives the method: this is done by prioritizing the tests judged to carry the greatest risk. The complete utterance therefore means: “We can gather evidence by prioritizing the riskiest tests.”

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

   That would make the discussion more objective and less defensive.

   Eso

   that

   haría que

   would make ...

   conversación

   conversation

   fuera

   were / be

   más objetiva

   more objective

   menos defensiva

   less defensive

   More detail

   Eso is a demonstrative pronoun meaning “that.” It is singular and neuter; it does not itself identify a specific noun or person here. Spanish uses forms such as este/esta, ese/esa, and aquel/aquella with masculine or feminine nouns, while the neuter pronouns are esto, eso, and aquello. Choose among these forms according to the grammatical and discourse reference, not simply proximity to another noun. haría is the conditional form of hacer used here with the third-person singular subject Eso: hacer → haría (“would make/do”). In this sentence, hacer que introduces a result: haría que ... = “would make ...”. The conditional presents the result as dependent on a possible or hypothetical situation. Example: Eso cambiaría el resultado. — “That would change the result.” la conversación means “the conversation” or “the discussion.” Conversación is a feminine singular noun, so it takes la; its plural is las conversaciones. The definite article presents the conversation as the relevant discourse unit in the situation, without specifying its participants. fuera is the imperfect subjunctive form of ser. In this clause it agrees with the third-person singular subject la conversación; the same form can also serve as first-person singular in other contexts. It appears after hacer que because the sentence presents the resulting state as dependent on the hypothetical action: haría que la conversación fuera .... Here, fuera means “were” in the sense of “would be.” Its meaning is determined by this surrounding structure. más objetiva means “more objective.” Objetiva is the feminine singular form of the adjective objetivo, agreeing with conversación; más forms the comparative “more objective.” The comparison presents the conversation as having a greater degree of objectivity than a relevant comparison point. Example: Una explicación más objetiva ayuda a evaluar los datos. — “A more objective explanation helps evaluate the data.” menos defensiva means “less defensive.” Defensiva is the feminine singular form of defensivo, again agreeing with conversación; menos forms the comparative “less defensive.” It expresses a lower degree of defensiveness relative to a comparison point. Example: La respuesta fue menos defensiva. — “The response was less defensive.” Together, Eso haría que gives “That would make it so that,” and la conversación fuera más objetiva y menos defensiva describes the resulting state: the discussion would be more objective and less defensive. The adjectives agree with la conversación, while más and menos compare the two qualities with an understood relevant baseline.

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

   A risk summary based on current results would support that.

   resumen

   summary

   riesgos

   risks

   basado en

   based on

   resultados

   results

   actuales

   current

   respaldaría

   would support

   esa

   that

   idea

   idea

   More detail

   resumen significa “summary”. Es un sustantivo masculino singular; por eso aparece con un y el participio basado. Ejemplo: un resumen breve = “a brief summary”. riesgos significa “risks”. Es el plural de riesgo; de riesgos especifica de qué trata el resumen. El singular es riesgo. basado en significa “based on”. basado es el participio de basar y aquí concuerda con resumen: masculino singular. La estructura reutilizable es algo basado en algo (“something based on something”). Ejemplo: Una decisión basada en datos = “A decision based on data.” resultados significa “results”. Es el plural de resultado; aquí designa aquello en lo que se basa el resumen. Ejemplo: Los resultados confirman la tendencia = “The results confirm the trend.” actuales significa “current”. Es el adjetivo plural que concuerda con resultados. Su forma singular es actual; la forma no cambia por género en singular o plural aparte de la marca de número: resultado actual, resultados actuales. respaldaría significa “would support”. Es una forma condicional de respaldar, “to support/back”. El condicional presenta aquí el apoyo como algo que se produciría bajo la situación planteada, no como un hecho afirmado directamente. Ejemplo: Ese dato respaldaría la conclusión = “That piece of data would support the conclusion.” esa significa “that”. Es un demostrativo femenino singular y concuerda con idea; esa modifica a un sustantivo femenino singular. Ejemplo: esa propuesta = “that proposal”. idea significa “idea”. Es un sustantivo femenino singular; su plural es ideas. La combinación esa idea significa “that idea”. En conjunto, Un resumen de riesgos basado en los resultados actuales es el sujeto: “A risk summary based on current results”. respaldaría aporta el sentido “would support”, y esa idea es aquello que recibiría ese apoyo. Por tanto, la oración completa significa: “A risk summary based on current results would support that idea.”

8. Puedo llevar ese resumen a la reunión.

   I can bring that summary to the meeting.

   Puedo

   can; am able to

   llevar

   bring; take

   ese

   that

   resumen

   summary

   reunión

   meeting

   More detail

   Puedo is the first-person singular present form of poder (“to be able to; can”). With an infinitive, it expresses ability or possibility: puedo + infinitive. Example: Puedo ayudar. — “I can help.” llevar is an infinitive meaning “to take” or “to bring,” depending on the direction described from the speaker’s perspective. Here, the meeting is the destination, and the intended meaning is “bring [it] to the meeting.” After a conjugated form such as puedo, Spanish uses the infinitive: puedo llevar. ese is a masculine singular demonstrative meaning “that.” It agrees with the masculine singular noun it modifies, resumen; its form is not determined by the speaker’s or listener’s gender. A useful contrast is ese resumen (“that summary”) versus esa reunión (“that meeting”), where esa is feminine singular. resumen is a noun meaning “summary.” Its plural is resúmenes. In this utterance, it is the direct object of llevar: the thing being brought. Example: Leo el resumen. — “I read the summary.” reunión is a feminine noun meaning “meeting.” The phrase a la reunión identifies the destination: “to the meeting.” The article la agrees with feminine singular reunión; a la remains two separate words because a does not contract with la. Together, Puedo llevar ese resumen a la reunión means “I can bring that summary to the meeting.” The structure is puedo + infinitive for “I can do something,” followed by the object ese resumen and the destination a la reunión. This sentence states the speaker’s ability or possibility of bringing the specified summary to the meeting.

9. Así podremos tomar una decisión práctica.

   So we can make a practical decision.

   Así

   so

   podremos

   we will be able to

   tomar

   make

   decisión

   decision

   práctica

   practical

   More detail

   Así means “so” or “in this way.” Here it links the situation to the result that follows. Example: Así lo hacemos. — “That’s how we do it.” podremos is the first-person plural future form of poder (“to be able to”): podemos = “we can,” podremos = “we will be able to.” The ending -emos identifies “we” in this form. It expresses a future possibility or ability, not a command. tomar is the infinitive “to take.” In tomar una decisión, Spanish uses the reusable expression “to make a decision”; the verb remains in the infinitive after the conjugated podremos. Example: Podemos tomar una decisión hoy. — “We can make a decision today.” decisión is a feminine noun meaning “decision.” The indefinite article una and the adjective práctica agree with it: una decisión práctica. The plural is decisiones. práctica is the feminine singular form of the adjective práctico/práctica, meaning “practical.” It agrees with the feminine singular noun decisión; the masculine singular form is práctico, and plural forms are prácticos and prácticas. Example: Buscamos una solución práctica. — “We are looking for a practical solution.” Together, Así podremos gives “So we will be able to,” and tomar una decisión práctica gives “make a practical decision.” The whole utterance therefore means: “So we can make a practical decision.”