era imposible

was impossible

→ ser
phrase Uncommon #25,724
was impossible Use *era* to describe something that was impossible in the past.
SP: Era imposible llegar a tiempo.
EN: It was impossible to arrive on time.

Tom sabía que era imposible.

Tom knew it was impossible.

Era imposible sacar el tapón.

It was impossible to remove the plug.

Era imposible despertarte.

It was impossible to wake you up.

— Suzume (2022)

Supuse que nada era imposible para usted.

I assumed that nothing was impossible for you.

— Левиафан (2014)

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

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

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)

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

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

— Астенический синдром (1989)

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 ganar una carrera.

It was impossible to win a race.

— Senna (2010)

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)

Era imposible saberlo.

It was impossible to know.

Era imposible conducir por la niebla.

It was impossible to drive through the fog.

Y con él era imposible.

And with him, it was impossible.

— Zeta (2026)

Sabías que era imposible y aun así lo intentaste.

You knew it was impossible and yet you tried.