What does "a punto de" mean?
The phrase "a punto de" means "about to" or "on the verge of." It is used to describe an action that is going to happen in the very next moment. In daily conversation, it replaces complex future tenses with a simple, high-frequency structure: a punto de + infinitive.
15 High-Frequency Examples
1.
Estoy a punto de terminar el despliegue del código.
I am about to finish the code deployment. (presente de indicativo)
I am about to finish the code deployment. (presente de indicativo)
2.
Estábamos a punto de salir cuando empezó a llover.
We were about to leave when it started to rain. (imperfecto de indicativo)
We were about to leave when it started to rain. (imperfecto de indicativo)
3.
El servidor estuvo a punto de colapsar ayer.
The server was on the verge of collapsing yesterday. (pretérito)
The server was on the verge of collapsing yesterday. (pretérito)
4.
Cuando llegues, estaré a punto de empezar la reunión.
When you arrive, I will be about to start the meeting. (futuro)
When you arrive, I will be about to start the meeting. (futuro)
5.
Yo estaría a punto de comprarlo si tuviera el dinero.
I would be about to buy it if I had the money. (potencial simple)
I would be about to buy it if I had the money. (potencial simple)
6.
Espero que el tren esté a punto de llegar.
I hope the train is about to arrive. (presente de subjuntivo)
I hope the train is about to arrive. (presente de subjuntivo)
7.
Si el sistema estuviera a punto de fallar, recibiríamos una alerta.
If the system were about to fail, we would receive an alert. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
If the system were about to fail, we would receive an alert. (imperfecto de subjuntivo)
8.
¿Alguna vez has estado a punto de mudarte a otro país?
Have you ever been on the verge of moving to another country? (perfecto de indicativo)
Have you ever been on the verge of moving to another country? (perfecto de indicativo)
9.
Ya había estado a punto de rendirme cuando encontré la solución.
I had already been about to give up when I found the solution. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
I had already been about to give up when I found the solution. (pluscuamperfecto de indicativo)
10.
Apenas hubo estado a punto de gritar, recordó dónde estaba.
Hardly had he been about to scream when he remembered where he was. (pretérito anterior — literary)
Hardly had he been about to scream when he remembered where he was. (pretérito anterior — literary)
11.
Para las cinco, habremos estado a punto de terminar la jornada.
By five, we will have been about to finish the workday. (futuro perfecto)
By five, we will have been about to finish the workday. (futuro perfecto)
12.
Habría estado a punto de llamarte, pero se me acabó la batería.
I would have been about to call you, but my battery ran out. (potencial compuesto)
I would have been about to call you, but my battery ran out. (potencial compuesto)
13.
Dudo que hayan estado a punto de cancelar el viaje.
I doubt they have been about to cancel the trip. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
I doubt they have been about to cancel the trip. (perfecto de subjuntivo)
14.
Si hubieras estado a punto de caer, yo te habría ayudado.
If you had been about to fall, I would have helped you. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
If you had been about to fall, I would have helped you. (pluscuamperfecto de subjuntivo)
15.
¡Estate a punto de salir en cuanto pite el árbitro!
Be ready to go out as soon as the referee whistles! (imperativo)
Be ready to go out as soon as the referee whistles! (imperativo)