Spanish grammar
Iba a + infinitive
Say what you were going to do, and that you changed your mind.
From the scene Iba a llamar, pero… (I was going to call, but…)
In short
For plans that didn't happen, use iba a + infinitive: iba a llamar, pero al final, no.
- I was going to call iba a llamar
- I was going to look for iba a buscar
- but in the end, no pero al final, no
- I changed my mind cambié de idea
Your turn
Which one goes with I was going to look for?
Options: pero al final, no · iba a buscar · iba a llamar
Show answer
I was going to look for → iba a buscar
How it works
To say what you were planning to do (and then didn’t), use the imperfect of ir + a + infinitive: iba a llamar (I was going to call).
Good to know
Pero al final… or cambié de idea says what really happened.
I was going to call iba a llamar
Ramón
Iba a llamar. Pero al final, no.
I was going to call. But in the end, no.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Pero al final, no.
Options: Iba a buscar · Cambié de idea · Iba a llamar
Show answer
Ramón
Iba a llamar. Pero al final, no.
I was going to call. But in the end, no.
I was going to look for iba a buscar
Ramón
Iba a buscar el teléfono... pero me dormí.
I was going to look for the phone... but I fell asleep.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) el teléfono... pero me dormí.
Options: Iba a buscar · Iba a llamar · Pero al final
Show answer
Ramón
Iba a buscar el teléfono... pero me dormí.
I was going to look for the phone... but I fell asleep.
but in the end, no pero al final, no
Ramón
Claro que no. ¡Para eso está Doña Elena!
Of course not. That's what Doña Elena is for!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Claro que (blank). ¡Para eso está Doña Elena!
Options: iba a llamar · iba a buscar · no
Show answer
Ramón
Claro que no. ¡Para eso está Doña Elena!
Of course not. That's what Doña Elena is for!
I changed my mind cambié de idea
Nuria
Yo también iba a llamar, pero cambié de idea.
I was going to call too, but I changed my mind.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Yo también iba a llamar, pero (blank).
Options: cambié de idea · iba a buscar · pero al final
Show answer
Nuria
Yo también iba a llamar, pero cambié de idea.
I was going to call too, but I changed my mind.
Common mistake
Not Voy a or Fui a here. A plan in the past that didn’t happen.
Iba a llamar. Pero al final, no.
I was going to call. But in the end, no.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I was going to call | iba a llamar |
|---|---|
| I was going to look for | iba a buscar |
| but in the end, no | pero al final, no |
| I changed my mind | cambié de idea |
More lines from the story
- RamónIba a llamar esta mañana, pero había fútbol en la tele.I was going to call this morning, but there was football on TV.
- Nuria¿Por qué no?Why not?