No sé si el asunto es tan complicado, pero quizá sea mejor empezar pronto.

to be

Breakdown of No sé si el asunto es tan complicado, pero quizá sea mejor empezar pronto.

• pero: but
• el: the
• tan: so
• mejor: better
• complicado: complicated
• ,: comma
• pronto: soon
• empezar: to start
• quizá: maybe
• el asunto: the matter

Questions & Answers about No sé si el asunto es tan complicado, pero quizá sea mejor empezar pronto.

Why is sea used instead of es here after quizá?

Quizá indicates a possibility or uncertainty, which often calls for the subjunctive in Spanish. Hence, we say quizá sea rather than quizá es to reflect that the situation is not certain.

Why do we say No sé si instead of just using something like No sé?

No sé si introduces an indirect question or unknown condition (meaning “I don’t know if…”). It sets up a clause that expresses uncertainty about the following statement: whether or not el asunto es tan complicado.

What does tan do in tan complicado?

Tan is an intensifier meaning “so” in English. It’s used to emphasize the degree of whatever adjective comes after it—here, complicado—thus implying the possibility of a high level of complexity.

Why use the infinitive empezar rather than conjugating it?

When a verb follows an expression like es mejor (it’s better), it usually remains in the infinitive in Spanish because it’s functioning as a general statement or recommendation, rather than referring to a specifically conjugated subject.