Si me falta tiempo para comprar un regalo, quizá cumpla esa tarea en la próxima semana.

If I’m short on time to buy a gift, maybe I’ll fulfill that task next week.

Breakdown of Si me falta tiempo para comprar un regalo, quizá cumpla esa tarea en la próxima semana.

• yo: I
• un: a
• la: the
• en: in
• me: me
• para: for
• el tiempo: the time
• comprar: to buy
• ese: that
• la semana: the week
• el regalo: the gift
• próximo: next
• ,: comma
• cumplir: to fulfill
• la tarea: the task
• .: period
• quizá: maybe
• faltar: to lack

Questions & Answers about Si me falta tiempo para comprar un regalo, quizá cumpla esa tarea en la próxima semana.

Why do we say me falta tiempo instead of something like no tengo tiempo?

In Spanish, faltar can indicate that something is missing or lacking. When you say me falta tiempo, you emphasize the idea that time is in short supply for you, rather than simply stating that you don’t have time at all.

Why is the subjunctive used in quizá cumpla?

Quizá (meaning “maybe” or “perhaps”) often triggers the subjunctive mood when expressing uncertainty or possibility. Since you’re not sure if you will complete the task next week, you use the subjunctive form cumpla to reflect that uncertainty.

What exactly does cumplir una tarea imply in Spanish?

The verb cumplir with una tarea means “to fulfill” or “to carry out” a task. It emphasizes the completion or fulfillment of a responsibility, rather than just doing it casually.

Is there a difference between en la próxima semana and la semana que viene?

En la próxima semana and la semana que viene are both common ways to refer to next week. La semana que viene is more colloquial, while en la próxima semana can sound a bit more formal or slightly more planned. Both are widely understood and used.

Could you replace quizá cumpla with a lo mejor cumplo without changing the meaning?

Yes, you could say a lo mejor cumplo esa tarea, but it would sound less formal and might slightly shift the nuance. A lo mejor suggests a possibility but doesn’t typically require the subjunctive. In everyday speech, both are valid ways to indicate uncertainty about completing the task.