Breakdown of Llegué justo a tiempo para la clase de español ayer.
para
for
español
Spanish
el tiempo
the time
de
of
la clase
the class
llegar
to arrive
ayer
yesterday
justo
just
Questions & Answers about Llegué justo a tiempo para la clase de español ayer.
Why is llegué in the preterite tense rather than the imperfect tense?
The Spanish preterite tense (in this case llegué) is used to talk about a specific completed action in the past—here, arriving for class yesterday. The imperfect (llegaba) would describe more of an ongoing or repeated past action, which isn’t the focus in this sentence.
What does justo a tiempo literally mean and how is it used?
It translates literally to just in time. It emphasizes that something happened at the perfect moment, leaving little or no room for delay.
Why do we say para la clase and not por la clase?
In Spanish, para often indicates a purpose, destination, or a goal (i.e., “for the class” as in “to attend the class”). Por generally suggests a cause or a means. Here, you have a clear intention to attend the class, so para is appropriate.
Can ayer be placed at the beginning of the sentence?
Yes, you can say Ayer llegué justo a tiempo para la clase de español. Spanish word order is fairly flexible. Placing ayer at the beginning just shifts the emphasis slightly to the time. The overall meaning remains the same.
How should I pronounce llegué?
Pronounce it as yeh-GEH. The ll in Spanish often sounds like the English “y.” The accent on the é indicates that the stress falls on the last syllable.
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