Breakdown of Lo que pasa es que una llanta se está pinchando.
ser
to be
una
a, an (feminine)
estar
to be (location/state)
que
that / than
lo
the ... thing (neuter article)
la llanta
the tire
pasar
to happen
pincharse
to get a flat tire
Questions & Answers about Lo que pasa es que una llanta se está pinchando.
What exactly does lo que pasa es que add to the beginning of this sentence?
Lo que pasa es que translates literally to "what happens is that," but it is used as a set phrase meaning "the thing is." Native speakers use it to introduce an excuse, a justification, or an explanation for a situation, such as explaining why you have to pull the car over.
Why do we use the indicative está instead of the subjunctive after lo que pasa es que?
Even though it is a phrase ending in que, lo que pasa es que introduces a statement of fact or a concrete reason, not a doubt or an emotion. Because you are declaring that the tire is actually going flat, you use the normal indicative mood.
Why is there a se before está pinchando?
The verb pinchar means "to puncture." By adding the reflexive pronoun se to make it pincharse, the focus shifts to the tire itself. The se shows that the tire is experiencing this change on its own (going flat), rather than someone actively puncturing it.
Can I attach the se to the end of the verb phrase instead?
Yes. With the present progressive, you can place the pronoun before the conjugated verb or attached to the end of the gerund. You could also say una llanta está pinchándose. Notice that if you attach it to the end, you need to add an accent mark over the a in pinchándose to keep the spoken stress on the correct syllable.
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