Spanish · C2 · Family moment
The career you nearly chose in Spanish
This guide explores the 'avertive' aspect in Spanish—how to describe actions that were on the verge of happening but ultimately did not occur. For a C2 learner, mastering the nuances between 'casi', 'por poco', and 'estar a punto de' allows for sophisticated reflection on career paths and life choices without the need for complex conditional clauses.
What you'll learn
- Express near-misses in the past using 'casi' and 'por poco'.
- Utilize 'estar a punto de + infinitive' for imminent past actions.
- Discuss career transitions and professional regrets with high-level vocabulary.
- Understand the subtle shift in mood and tense when an event 'nearly' happened.
Spanish phrases for the career you nearly chose
Estuve a punto de aceptar el ascenso solo por no decepcionarte.
I nearly accepted the promotion just to avoid disappointing you.
'Estuve a punto de' emphasizes being on the very brink of the action.
Casi me quedo en una profesión en la que ya no creía.
I almost stayed in a profession I'd stopped believing in.
'Casi' followed by the present or preterite indicative is a common way to express a near-event.
Por poco confundimos un título prestigioso con una vida plena.
We nearly mistook a prestigious title for a satisfying life.
'Por poco' often triggers the present tense even for past events to add immediacy, though the preterite is also correct.
Estuve a punto de dejar que una entrevista nefasta decidiera todo mi futuro.
I almost let one dreadful interview decide my entire future.
'Nefasta' is a sophisticated C2 synonym for 'terrible' or 'dreadful'.
Por poco te convences de abandonar el trabajo que mejor te va.
You nearly talked yourself out of the work that suits you.
'Convencerse de abandonar' captures the nuance of 'talking oneself out of'.
Casi pregunto por el sueldo antes de preguntarte si eras feliz.
I nearly asked about the salary before asking whether you were happy.
Using the present 'pregunto' after 'casi' highlights how close the action was to occurring.
Estuvimos a punto de celebrar una decisión que en realidad no habías tomado.
We almost celebrated a decision you hadn't actually made.
Note the use of the pluperfect 'habías tomado' for an action prior to the near-celebration.
Casi sigo tus pasos; me alegra que podamos hablar de por qué no lo hice.
I nearly followed your path; I'm glad we can discuss why I didn't.
'Seguir los pasos de alguien' is the standard idiom for following a career path.
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
Ascenso
Promotion
From the verb 'ascender' (to rise/promote).
Vida plena
Satisfying / Full life
'Plena' suggests completeness and fulfillment beyond mere happiness.
Nefasta
Dreadful / Disastrous
A high-register adjective used to describe events with very negative outcomes.
Por poco
Nearly / Almost
Often used with the present indicative to describe a past event that was narrowly avoided.
The Avertive Construction
To describe an event that almost happened, Spanish uses indicative tenses rather than the subjunctive used in German (Konjunktiv II) or the conditional in English. The choice between 'casi', 'por poco', and 'estar a punto de' depends on the desired emphasis.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Estar a punto de | Preterite of Estar + a punto de + Infinitive | Estuve a punto de dimitir (I was on the verge of resigning). |
| Casi + Indicative | Casi + Preterite or Present | Casi firmo el contrato (I nearly signed/was about to sign the contract). |
| Por poco | Por poco + Present Indicative | Por poco pierdo la oportunidad (I nearly lost the opportunity). |
More examples
Casi elijo el camino fácil, pero tu valentía me hizo reflexionar.
I almost chose the easy path, but your courage made me reflect.
A classic C2 construction using 'casi' with the present tense for past near-misses.
Por poco descartamos tu verdadera vocación por miedo al fracaso.
We nearly dismissed your true calling out of fear of failure.
Using 'vocación' adds a professional and philosophical depth to the career discussion.