Word
Si hay un problema, este plan está a punto de fallar.
Meaning
If there is a problem, this plan is about to fail.
Part of speech
sentence
Pronunciation
Course
Breakdown of Si hay un problema, este plan está a punto de fallar.
de
from / of
un
a, an (masculine)
el problema
the problem
estar
to be (location/state)
Questions & Answers about Si hay un problema, este plan está a punto de fallar.
How does the phrase está a punto de fallar work?
Since "if there is a problem" is a condition, shouldn't we use the subjunctive form of haber instead of the indicative hay?
No, in Spanish, you never use the present subjunctive directly after the word si (if). When expressing a likely or possible condition like this one, you just use the normal present tense (the indicative).
Why do we say este plan and not esto plan?
Este is the masculine singular word for "this" used right before a noun. You use it here because plan is a masculine singular noun. Esto is the neuter version of "this". It is only used when referring to a general idea, an unnamed object, or an abstract situation, and it never goes right next to a noun.
Just a refresher: why is it un problema when the word ends in "a"?