Breakdown of Aun prolongando el diálogo, no acabaron por mediar en la disputa.
no
no, not
en
in / on / at
por
for / by / through / in/during (part of the day)
acabar
to end up (doing something)
aun
even (adverb)
la disputa
the dispute
prolongar
to prolong
el diálogo
the dialogue
mediar
to mediate
Questions & Answers about Aun prolongando el diálogo, no acabaron por mediar en la disputa.
What exactly does acabar por mean here, and can I use terminar por instead?
Yes! Both acabar por and terminar por followed by an infinitive mean 'to end up doing' something. In this sentence, no acabaron por mediar means 'they did not end up mediating.' These are culminating periphrases, meaning they highlight the final outcome of a long process. Here, the process was the prolonged dialogue that ultimately failed to result in a mediation.
Why is Aun spelled without an accent mark in this sentence?
Without the written accent, aun means 'even' (often used to show concession or contrast). If it had an accent (aún), it would mean 'still' or 'yet'. Here, it means 'even,' setting up the contrast: even prolonging the dialogue, they didn't mediate.
Is it common to use a gerund like prolongando right after aun?
Yes, this is a common and very natural structure in Spanish. The combination of aun plus a gerund, like aun prolongando, translates to 'even doing' something or 'even while doing' something. It introduces a concession, showing that despite the ongoing action of the dialogue being prolonged, the expected result didn't happen.
How does no acabaron por mediar feel different from just saying no mediaron?
Using the simple past no mediaron just states the plain fact: 'they didn't mediate.' By using the periphrasis no acabaron por mediar, it emphasizes the long, drawn-out process that preceded the result. It tells us that mediation was a strong possibility being discussed during the dialogue, but it didn't materialize as the final outcome.
Learn Aun prolongando el diálogo, no acabaron por mediar en la disputa and more in Spanish
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.
- ✓ Practice with interactive exercises
- ✓ Track your progress with spaced repetition
- ✓Learn at your own pace — completely free