Learn Spanish (Latin America): Fue un placer hablar con usted.

Fue un placer hablar con usted.

It was a pleasure talking with you.

Breakdown of Fue un placer hablar con usted.

Questions & Answers about Fue un placer hablar con usted.

Why is fue used here instead of the imperfect era?

Fue is the preterite (completed past) of ser. We use it here to sum up an event that has just finished, like a conversation. You are saying that the specific conversation as a whole was a pleasure.

The English translation says 'talking', so why does the Spanish use the infinitive hablar instead of hablando?

In Spanish, when a verb represents a general concept or an action itself (like the act of talking), you always use the infinitive. The Spanish -ando or -iendo forms are mainly used for actions actively happening right at that exact moment, like in estoy hablando (I am talking).

Why use con usted instead of contigo?

Since this lesson focuses on polite and formal language, usted is the right choice for expressing respect. You use con usted in professional settings, with elders, or with someone you don't know well. If you were talking to a casual friend, you would say contigo instead.

Why do we use the verb ser (fue) instead of estar (estuvo) for 'it was'?