Spanish · C2 · Family moment
The Choices We Almost Made in Spanish
This guide covers the 'avertive' past in Spanish, which describes events that were on the verge of happening but ultimately did not occur. For a C2 learner, this involves nuanced use of 'por poco' and the imperfect indicative or 'casi' to reflect on near-misses and thoughtful pivots in parenting and childhood autonomy.
What you'll learn
- Express near-events using 'por poco' + present/past indicative.
- Use 'casi' with the indicative to describe things that almost happened.
- Reflect on parental restraint and child autonomy using sophisticated past constructions.
Spanish phrases for the choices we almost made
Por poco te inscribo antes de preguntarte si realmente querías apuntarte.
I almost signed you up before asking whether you actually wanted to join.
Using 'por poco' with the present/imperfect indicative is a natural way to express an averted action.
Casi se nos pasa el plazo del proyecto, pero detectaste la fecha justo a tiempo.
We nearly missed the project deadline, but you spotted the date just in time.
'Casi' followed by the indicative effectively conveys the 'near-miss'.
Estuve a punto de tirar tus notas porque las confundí con papel sucio.
I almost threw away your notes because I mistook them for scrap paper.
'Estar a punto de' + infinitive emphasizes being on the verge of an action.
Por poco te rindes con esa maqueta antes de encontrar una forma de sostener la base.
You nearly gave up on that model before you found a way to support the base.
Highlights a moment of near-frustration overcome by the child.
Casi me quedo a toda la reunión del club, pero luego recordé que querías apañártelas por tu cuenta.
I almost stayed for the whole club meeting, then remembered you wanted to manage on your own.
'Apañárselas' is a high-level colloquialism for managing or getting by.
Por poco compramos el equipo caro antes de comprobar qué podías pedir prestado.
We nearly bought the expensive kit before checking what you could borrow.
Reflects on a near-financial oversight.
Casi envío esa foto al grupo de la familia sin consultarte.
I almost sent that photo to the family group without checking with you.
Respects the child's privacy by acknowledging a near-breach.
Por poco aceptas otra actividad extra, pero luego te diste cuenta de que ya tenías la semana completa.
You nearly agreed to an extra activity, then realised your week was already full.
Discusses the child's own decision-making process.
Hear these phrases and practise them
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Try it free for 7 daysKey words
por poco
almost / nearly
Often triggers the indicative, even when the event is hypothetical (e.g., 'por poco me caigo').
apuntarse
to sign up / to join
Commonly used for clubs, activities, or lists.
apañárselas
to manage / to get by
A useful C2-level pronominal verb for independence.
papel sucio
scrap paper
Also known as 'papel de borrador' or 'papel para reciclar'.
The Avertive Construction
To describe an action that 'almost' happened, Spanish typically uses 'casi' or 'por poco' followed by the indicative. Unlike the German Konjunktiv II, Spanish usually avoids the subjunctive here, favoring the indicative to stress how close the event came to reality.
| Use | Form | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Por poco + Present | Por poco + [Present Indicative] | Por poco me caigo (I almost fell). |
| Casi + Past | Casi + [Preterite/Imperfect] | Casi lo olvido (I almost forgot it). |
| Verge of action | Estar a punto de + [Infinitive] | Estuvimos a punto de salir (We were about to leave). |
More examples
Casi elijo el color azul, pero sabía que preferirías el verde.
I almost chose the color blue, but I knew you'd prefer green.
Shows the parent's consideration.
Por poco intervenimos, pero resolviste el conflicto tú solo.
We nearly intervened, but you resolved the conflict by yourself.
Validates the child's problem-solving skills.