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-   -   El preso número nueve (http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=23884)

Tyrn July 14, 2019 03:25 AM

El preso número nueve
 
Hi,

This is the beginning:

El preso número nueve ya lo van a confesar
Esta rezando en la celda con el cura del penal
Porque antes de amanecer la vida le han de quitar
Porque mató a su mujer y a un amigo desleal

Why van a confesar? Why plural?

Rusty July 14, 2019 05:56 AM

plural, impersonal reference (they, he that is, or those that are, receiving the confession)
(the same impersonal reference appears in 'la vida le han de quitar' = 'they're going to take his life')

In English, we also use a plural impersonal reference, even though we know only a single person is being referenced.

Tyrn July 14, 2019 06:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rusty (Post 176324)
(the same impersonal reference appears in 'la vida le han de quitar' = 'they're going to take his life')

Thanks!

Oddly, they're going to take his life I figured out on my own. But who are they in the first line? Either the prisoner or the priest are single. Would you care to translate suitably the first line?

Rusty July 14, 2019 10:07 AM

They (impersonal they, no real antecedent is needed, singular or plural) are going to hear the confession of prisoner number nine.

AngelicaDeAlquezar July 14, 2019 04:22 PM

Welcome to the forums, Tyrn. :)
You might find this discussion useful: http://forums.tomisimo.org/showthread.php?t=14223

Tyrn July 15, 2019 12:42 AM

Thanks!

I'm not the first one to be perplexed about this first line...


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