Quiero comer pan pero no tengo tiempo.

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Breakdown of Quiero comer pan pero no tengo tiempo.

• querer: to want
• tener: to have
• el pan: the bread
• comer: to eat
• pero: but
• el tiempo: the time

Questions & Answers about Quiero comer pan pero no tengo tiempo.

Why is the personal pronoun yo not used before quiero?

In Spanish, the subject pronoun is often omitted because the verb ending itself indicates who is performing the action. So saying Quiero already implies yo quiero. You could include yo for emphasis, but it's not necessary.

Why is comer in its infinitive form instead of a conjugated form?

Whenever you have two verbs in a row and the first one is conjugated (in this case, quiero), the second verb usually remains in the infinitive (here, comer). This is a common pattern in Spanish, similar to saying I want to eat in English.

How do you decide whether to use un pan or just pan?

In Spanish, articles can be dropped when talking about something in a general sense, especially if it’s treated as an uncountable or unspecified amount. Saying Quiero comer pan implies any bread, not a specific piece of bread. If you wanted to specify a particular or single piece, you might say Quiero comer un pan or Quiero comer un trozo de pan.

What role does pero play in this sentence?

Pero means but, and it’s used to connect two contrasting ideas. The speaker is expressing a desire to eat bread but then giving a reason why it’s not possible.

Why is tiempo used here and not another word like vez?

Tiempo can mean time in the sense of having enough free hours or moments to do something. Vez refers more to an occasion or instance (like a specific moment in time). Since the sentence is about not having enough free time to eat bread, tiempo is the correct choice.

Is there a difference between using no tengo tiempo and no dispongo de tiempo?

No tengo tiempo is more common and straightforward, simply meaning I don’t have time. No dispongo de tiempo is more formal or emphasizes the fact that you do not have any available time at your disposal. Both express a similar idea, though the former is widely used in everyday speech.