Log inSign up

Estoy a punto de salir, pero mi perro comienza a ladrar junto a la puerta.

Estoy a punto de salir, pero mi perro comienza a ladrar junto a la puerta.
I am about to leave, but my dog starts to bark next to the door.
FromLesson 34inHardcore Spanish (Latin America)

Questions & Answers about Estoy a punto de salir, pero mi perro comienza a ladrar junto a la puerta.

What does estar a punto de mean?
Estar a punto de is an expression used to say you are about to do something, indicating the action will happen very soon.
Why is salir in the infinitive after estar a punto de?
The structure estar a punto de always takes an infinitive verb. You never conjugate the main action; you simply use a punto de + infinitive.
Why is pero used instead of y?
Pero means but and introduces a contrast. You intend to leave, but your dog starts barking. Y would just add information without that opposing sense.
Why is the verb comienza used, and how do I know its form?
Comienza is the third-person singular present of comenzar. The subject is mi perro (he), so you use comienza, not comienzo (first person) or comienzan (third-person plural).
Why do we say comenzar a ladrar using the infinitive ladrar, not a gerund?
Verbs like comenzar and empezar follow the pattern comenzar a + infinitive. The gerund (ladrando) would be used with estar to form a progressive tense, e.g. está ladrando.
What does junto a mean here, and could I say al lado de instead?
Junto a means next to or beside. Al lado de is a common synonym, though junto a often conveys a slightly closer, more immediate proximity.
Could I use empezar a instead of comenzar a?
Yes. In Latin American Spanish, empezar a + infinitive and comenzar a + infinitive are interchangeable in most contexts.
Can I rephrase the sentence using a progressive tense, like está ladrando?

Absolutely. You could say:
Estoy a punto de salir, pero mi perro está ladrando junto a la puerta.
This version emphasizes that the barking is happening right now.

AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does verb conjugation work in Spanish?”
Spanish verbs change form based on the subject, tense, and mood. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns depending on whether they end in ‑ar, ‑er, or ‑ir. For example, "hablar" (to speak) becomes "hablo" (I speak), "hablas" (you speak), and "habla" (he/she speaks) in the present tense.

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning Spanish

Master Spanish — from Estoy a punto de salir, pero mi perro comienza a ladrar junto a la puerta to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.

  • ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning Spanish freeBrowse the full course