Breakdown of Es que tengo un contratiempo y tengo que cancelar la reunión.
ser
to be
y
and
tener
to have
un
a, an (masculine)
la reunión
the meeting / gathering
que
that / than
cancelar
to cancel
el contratiempo
the setback / the mishap
Questions & Answers about Es que tengo un contratiempo y tengo que cancelar la reunión.
Why use Es que... at the beginning of the sentence instead of just saying Tengo un contratiempo...?
Es que... is a very common phrase used to introduce an excuse, a justification, or a gentle refusal. It translates to "It's just that..." or "The thing is...". By adding it, you soften the bad news of canceling the meeting, making it sound more polite and explanatory rather than abrupt.
Why is the verb after es que in the indicative mood (tengo) rather than the subjunctive?
When you use es que to state a fact that serves as your excuse or justification, it triggers the indicative mood because you are declaring what is actually happening. You are confirming that the setback is real!
What exactly is a contratiempo?
It translates to "setback", "hitch", or "unexpected issue". It is a fantastic, natural-sounding word to use when you have a sudden schedule conflict or a minor emergency but do not want to give all the specific details.
Why is it tengo que cancelar instead of just tengo cancelar?
To express an obligation like "I have to" do something, you always need the formula tener que followed by an infinitive verb (like cancelar). Leaving out the que is a common habit from English, but in Spanish, that que is absolutely required to connect the obligation to the action.
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