Question 1

Why does sería mean "it was probably" here instead of "it would be"?

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, the conditional tense is often used to express a guess or probability about a past state. Just as you can use the future tense for present probability (será = "it is probably"), you shift back to the conditional for past probability (sería = "it was probably").

Question 2

What does the phrase toda una add to proeza?

Accepted Answer

The phrase todo un or toda una is an idiomatic way to say "quite a" or "a total" in English. It adds emphasis to the noun that follows, so toda una proeza translates to "quite a feat" or "an absolute feat."

Question 3

Why is empujar in the infinitive here? In English we might say "pushing the cart".

Accepted Answer

In Spanish, when an action is the subject of a sentence, the verb must be in the infinitive. While English often uses the "-ing" gerund form ("pushing the cart was quite a feat"), Spanish uses the infinitive (empujar) to act as a noun.

Question 4

Can carrito just mean a small car, or does it refer to something specific here?

Accepted Answer

While it literally means "little car," carrito is the standard word used across most of Latin America for a shopping cart, a baby stroller, or a street vendor's cart. Given the context of having to push it, the sentence is referring to a practical equipment rather than a toy.

Sería toda una proeza empujar el carrito hasta aquí.

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