How to Say ‘Yes, but I was at the side door.’ in Spain Spanish
Sí, pero yo estaba en la puerta lateral.
see PEH-roh yoh ehs-TAH-bah ehn lah PWEHR-tah lah-teh-RAHL
[see PEH-roh yoh ehs-TAH-bah ehn lah PWEHR-tah lah-teh-RAHL]
💬 Usage Tip: The extra [yo] is there for emphasis, not because Spanish needs it. In a dispute, [yo estaba...] helps stress your side: [yo estaba en la entrada], [yo estaba esperando allí].
Phrase Breakdown
Sí, pero
see PEH-roh
Yes, but
Used to agree partially before adding a correction or contrast.
Sí, pero no tengo tiempo ahora.
Yes, but I don’t have time now.
Words in this phrase
Sí
[see]
yes
Used to agree partly before explaining the problem.
Sí, pero no vi su coche.
Yes, but I didn’t see your car.
pero
[PEH-roh]
but
Introduces a contrast or correction.
Sí, pero estaba en otra puerta.
Yes, but I was at another door.
Yo estaba
yoh ehs-TAH-bah
I was
Past continuous / imperfect form expressing a state or ongoing situation in the past.
Yo estaba en casa.
I was at home.
Words in this phrase
yo
[yoh]
I
Subject pronoun used here for emphasis.
yo estaba esperando allí.
I was waiting there.
estaba
[ehs-TAH-bah]
was
Imperfect of estar, used for where someone was.
yo estaba junto al café.
I was next to the café.
En la puerta lateral
ehn lah PWEHR-tah lah-teh-RAHL
At the side door
Indicates the location where the speaker was waiting or standing.
Estaba en la puerta lateral del edificio.
I was at the side door of the building.
Words in this phrase
en
[ehn]
at / in
Preposition of location.
en la entrada principal había mucha gente.
There were many people at the main entrance.
la
[lah]
the
Feminine singular article used with puerta.
la puerta estaba cerrada.
The door was closed.
puerta
[PWEHR-tah]
door
A physical door or doorway used as a landmark.
la puerta no tenía un número visible.
The door did not have a visible number.
lateral
[lah-teh-RAHL]
side
Describes a side entrance rather than the main one.
la lateral está detrás del edificio.
The side one is behind the building.
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