No oí cuando vino.

Question

Hello, i have a simple question for now so don't worry (at least i think so). Can i say "No oí cuando había venido." instead of title's sentence? Would both of them be correct.

Thanks for responses.

For me the title is ok. - polenta1, Aug 9, 2017

Answer 1

Actually both sentences sound awkward. "No la/lo oí cuando había venido" is definitely wrong, you may say "no oí que había venido" (since había implies that the second action happened before the first, "cuando" makes no sense)

"No oí cuando cuando vino" sounds unnatural. I would say "No la/lo oí venir" or, at least "no la/lo oí cuando vino". Another option is to say "no lo/la escuché llegar". The other two options can also be used with "escuchar" instead of "oír" or "llegar" instead of "venir"