Using Cómo/dónde/quién/qué + ir a + infinitive to state the obvious/impossible Flashcards
Instead of indicating an action in the future, Ir a + infinitive can be used to express
A reaction to this could be:
“obviousness” when it is used with cómo, dónde, quién or qué, generally in an interrogative or an exclamatory sentence.
This construction is often used in colloquial Spanish when someone makes a comment and we reply to express that what was just said is evident, absurd or simply obvious.
How could she miss the train, when she arrived at the station half an hour early?
¿Cómo va a perder el tren, si ha llegado a la estación media hora antes?
I wonder where Antonio could be.
Me pregunto dónde estará Antonio.
Where is he going to be? Obviously at his girlfriend’s house as usual.
¿Dónde va a estar? Pues, en casa de su novia como siempre.
Why should there be anything wrong? [Lit: What is going to happen?] There is nothing wrong at all.
¡Qué iba a pasar! Nada, no pasa nada.
Nobody knew about Belén’s pregnancy.
Nadie sabía lo del embarazo de Belén.
Who could have known when she hid it so well!
Using ir in either El Presente or El Pretérito Imperfecto (va a …, iba a …) is not related to whether the idea is something to do with the present, the past or the future.
¡Quién lo iba a saber con lo bien que lo ha disimulado!
Of course they support them! It’s their duty.
¡Cómo no iba a apoyarlos! Es su obligación.
