Breakdown of La mayoría de los países llegaron a establecer un diálogo duradero sin hostilidad.
de
from / of
un
a, an (masculine)
a
to
el país
the country
llegar
to arrive
sin
without
la mayoría
the majority
establecer
to establish
el diálogo
the dialogue
duradero
lasting
la hostilidad
the hostility
Questions & Answers about La mayoría de los países llegaron a establecer un diálogo duradero sin hostilidad.
Why use llegaron a establecer instead of just establecieron?
The structure llegar a + infinitive is a culminating periphrase. It emphasizes that an action was finally achieved after a long process, effort, or series of difficulties. While establecieron just means "they established," llegaron a establecer means "they managed to establish" or "they eventually established."
Could we replace llegaron a with terminaron por in this sentence?
Grammatically, yes, but it changes the nuance. Both are culminating periphrases, but llegar a + infinitive usually implies achieving a positive goal after some effort (managed to / succeeded in). Terminar por + infinitive usually means "to end up doing something," which can happen by default, out of resignation, or as a last resort. Because establishing peace is a positive achievement, llegaron a is the most natural fit here.
Why is the verb llegaron plural when the subject starts with la mayoría, which is singular?
When a singular collective noun like mayoría (majority) or grupo (group) is followed by de + a plural noun like los países, the verb can be singular or plural. In everyday Spanish, using the plural verb (llegaron) is much more common because the speaker's mind is focused on the multiple countries actually doing the action.
How does the suffix on the word duradero work?
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