fuera tan

were so

→ ser
phrase Uncommon #18,699
were so Used with an adjective or adverb to express that someone or something was to a greater degree than expected. “Fuera” is the imperfect subjunctive form of ser, often used after expressions such as no pensé que, no sabía que, or ojalá que.
SP: No sabía que el examen fuera tan difícil.
EN: I didn't know the exam was so difficult.

No pensé que Tom fuera tan gordo.

I didn't think Tom was that fat.

Si esa guitarra no fuera tan cara, podría comprarla.

If that guitar weren’t so expensive, I could buy it.

Sería gracioso, si solo no fuera tan triste.

It would be funny if it weren’t so sad.

Vaya, no me imaginaba que esto fuera tan complicado de resolver sin la herramienta adecuada.

Wow, I didn't imagine this would be so complicated to solve without the right tool.

Sami ignoraba que Egipto fuera tan bonito.

Sami didn't know that Egypt was so beautiful.

Aunque no fuera tan bonita como tú.

Even if she wasn't as beautiful as you.

— मुन्ना भाई एम बी बी एस (2003)

No creía que fuera tan complicado resolver ese problema.

I didn't think it would be that complicated to solve that problem.

No sabía que fuera tan fuerte.

I didn't know it was that strong.

— Mystic River (2003)

Sí por favor, si fuera tan amable.

Yes, please, if you would be so kind.

— Fresas salvajes (1957)

Había oído que él era gordo, pero no había pensado que fuera tan gordo.

I had heard that he was fat, but I hadn’t thought he was that fat.

No pensé que Tom fuera tan fiable.

I didn’t think Tom was so reliable.

La vida sería más agradable si no fuera tan complicada.

Life would be more pleasant if it weren’t so complicated.

No me di cuenta de que fuera tan importante.

I didn’t realize it was that important.

— The Smashing Machine (2025)

Sami no sabía que Egipto fuera tan bonito.

Sami didn't know Egypt was so beautiful.

Ojalá que la política fuera tan fácil.

I wish politics were that easy.

— Bacurau (2019)

Tom no esperaba que María fuera tan gentil.

Tom didn't expect María to be so kind.

Sami desconocía que Egipto fuera tan bonito.

Sami didn't know that Egypt was so beautiful.

Tom no sabía que Mary fuera tan entretenida.

Tom didn't know Mary was so entertaining.