era imposible

was impossible

→ ser
phrase Uncommon #22,017
was impossible Used to say that something could not be done or was not possible in the past.
SP: Sin ayuda, era imposible terminar a tiempo.
EN: Without help, it was impossible to finish on time.

Tom sabía que era imposible.

Tom knew it was impossible.

Era imposible sacar el tapón.

It was impossible to remove the plug.

Solía pensar que eso era imposible hasta que lo vi con mis propios ojos.

I used to think that was impossible until I saw it with my own eyes.

Era imposible conducir por la niebla.

It was impossible to drive through the fog.

Sabías que era imposible y aun así lo intentaste.

You knew it was impossible and yet you tried.

Supuse que nada era imposible para usted.

I assumed that nothing was impossible for you.

— Leviatán (2014)

Era imposible ganar una carrera.

It was impossible to win a race.

— Senna (2010)

Y con él era imposible.

And with him, it was impossible.

— Zeta (2026)

Era imposible tener miedo en esta casa, si éramos un montón en la habitación.

It was impossible to be afraid in this house when there were so many of us in the room.

— El orfanato (2007)

Pensé que era imposible dormir tanto.

I thought it was impossible to sleep that much.

Era imposible despertarte.

It was impossible to wake you up.

— Suzume (2022)

Intentó ser bueno con todo el mundo, pero era imposible.

He tried to be good to everyone, but it was impossible.

— El síndrome asténico (1989)

Me era imposible hacer el trabajo en un solo día.

It was impossible for me to do the job in a single day.

La mató y se quedó atrapado en una habitación de la que era imposible escapar.

He killed her and became trapped in a room that was impossible to escape from.

— Contratiempo (2017)

Ellos no sabían que era imposible, así que lo hicieron.

They didn't know it was impossible, so they did it.