Lamento no haber asistido a tu reunión ayer, pero tuve un contratiempo.

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Breakdown of Lamento no haber asistido a tu reunión ayer, pero tuve un contratiempo.

• tener: to have
• un: a
• pero: but
• a: to
• tu: your
• la reunión: the meeting
• ayer: yesterday
• lamentar: to regret
• no haber asistido: not to have attended
• el contratiempo: the mishap

Questions & Answers about Lamento no haber asistido a tu reunión ayer, pero tuve un contratiempo.

Why does the sentence use lamentar in the first person (lamento)?

In Spanish, when you want to express regret, you can use the verb lamentar. Here, the speaker is talking about their own regrets, so it’s conjugated in the first person singular: lamento ("I regret").

Why is the verb phrase no haber asistido used instead of a simpler form like no asistí?

Using no haber asistido emphasizes the idea of "not having attended." In Spanish, combining no + haber + participio (past participle) can highlight the past action that you regret, rather than simply stating you didn’t attend (no asistí). It frames the regret more clearly as an action that did not happen.

What does tuve un contratiempo literally mean?

Tuve un contratiempo literally means “I had a setback.” It conveys that something unexpected happened, preventing you from attending. In day-to-day speech, it can refer to any last-minute obstacle or problem.

Why do we say a tu reunión rather than just tu reunión?

In Spanish, verbs like asistir are often used with the preposition a to indicate the event or place you are attending. So, when you refer to the meeting, it commonly becomes asistir a tu reunión.

Could you replace Lamento with Siento?

Yes. Siento no haber asistido is also common and means “I’m sorry I did not attend.” Lamentar can have a slightly more formal feel or emphasize regret, while sentir is more common in everyday speech. Both are correct.