Español en serio

What to say when things go wrong

Dieser Beitrag erklärt ein wichtiges Thema der spanischen Grammatik (Text auf Englisch).

In Spanish, when we explain ourselves or make an excuse, we often don’t start directly with the reason.
Instead, we use a very common structure:

es que + explanation

This structure helps us soften what we are about to say. It prepares the listener for a reason, an excuse, or a justification:

• Es que no tuve tiempo.
• Es que estaba trabajando.
• Es que no lo sabía.

It’s not about grammar but about interaction

‘Es que’ typically appears when someone questions you, reproaches you, or expects an explanation. Example:

— Laura, you didn’t finish the work.
— Ay, es que no tuve tiempo.

If we remove ‘es que’ and say only:

No tuve tiempo.

the sentence is still correct, but it sounds more abrupt. ‘Es que’ works as a buffer. It signals:

“I’m about to explain myself.”

Do not assume that you can replace ‘es que’ with ‘porque’. Compare:

No terminé el trabajo porque no tuve tiempo (statement explaining a fact)
vs.
Es que no tuve tiempo (response, excuse, justification)

🌍 Let’s now look at possible translations

Es que no tuve tiempo de llamarte.

• It’s just that I didn’t have time to call you.
• It’s that I didn’t have time to call you.
• The thing is, I didn’t have time to call you.
• I didn’t call you because I didn’t have time.
• I simply didn’t have time to call you.

Example from the episode

Read the full episode here →

Episode 11