Preguntas para una entrevista

[laepelba]

In this exercise, for each problem, several words are given (out of order), and it was my task to put the words in order, with the correct conjugation, spelling, punctuation, etc. to form a question for an interview of a famous singer. There are a couple about which I have some questions:

Example #1:
Words given: su / será / próximo / concierto / dónde / su
The answer in the answer key: ¿Dónde será su próximo concierto?
My questions:
- Why is it "ser" and not "estar"? I thought that with location, it was always supposed to be "estar".....
- Does "próximo" have to go before "concierto"? I had it after.....

Example #2:
Words given: vacaciones / serán / cuándo / próximas / sus
The answer in the answer key: ¿Cuándo serán sus próximas vacaciones?
My question:
- ...is the same as in the previous example! I had the "próximas" after the "vacaciones". Ugh! I feel like I'm never going to understand when/where/how to place adjectives/modifiers........ (sigh.........)

[Rusty]

Ser is used with events.
Próximo is a determiner, in this case. Determiners precede the noun.

[laepelba]

Can you give me a quick & dirty explanation of what makes something a "determiner"?

[chileno]

To me: ¿Dónde será su concierto próximamente ?


Is it still a determiner? I don't think so, according to what Rusty said.

However, I hope my input can help you to try to place it in your mind. :-)

[Rusty]

Articles, numbers, possessive pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns are all determiners. The word 'next' fits into the second set I mentioned. It's classified as a general ordinal (ordinals are first, second, etc.), and is ranked with words like 'last', 'previous', and 'subsequent'.

last week
next week
previous week
subsequent weeks

Próximamente is an adverb.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Articles, numbers, possessive pronouns, indefinite pronouns, and demonstrative pronouns are all determiners. The word 'next' fits into the second set I mentioned. It's classified as a general ordinal (ordinals are first, second, etc.), and is ranked with words like 'last', 'previous', and 'subsequent'.

last week
next week
previous week
subsequent weeks

Próximamente is an adverb.

Ah, thanks. I knew "próximamente" was an adverb just because it has the ~mente/~ly, but I know nothing about determiners, claim that I cannot claim anymore, completely.

Thank you Sir.

[laepelba]

But can't "next week" be "la semana próxima"?

[Rusty]

You'll hear 'la semana que viene' much more often than 'la semana próxima'. There are those who say that 'la próxima semana' and 'la semana próxima' mean the same thing, and there are those who say there's a slight difference. Most, though, would not use 'la próxima semana' when they mean next week.

Google these phrases and see what is most popular (and by what factor).
Then try 'el próximo mes' and 'el mes próximo'. For giggles, try 'el próximo fin de semana' and 'el fin de semana próximo'.

Determiners are sometimes placed behind the noun by speakers, but they can't always do it without getting some pretty odd phrases, like:
opinión otra (otra opinión)
los capítulos dos primeros (los primeros dos capítulos)
gatos dos (dos gatos)
carro mi (mi carro)
carro un (un carro)

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

But can't "next week" be "la semana próxima"?

Oh yes. That's what it is exactly. Now, like Rusty said, la semana que viene is used in these latitudes. Down South both, like in English.

Next week = la próxima semana

Coming week la semana que viene/semana venidera

[laepelba]

Okay - follow up question.

"This week" = "esta semana" ??
"Last week" = "la semana pasada" or "la pasada semana" ??

I have noticed that my Latin American friends who speak English don't quite use "next week" correctly in English. If, on Wednesday, they're talking about something that is going to happen two days from now they say "next Friday". When I am talking about two days from now I say "this Friday". When I say/hear "next Friday", I think "next week Friday". What are the distinctions in Spanish?

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Okay - follow up question.

"This week" = "esta semana" ??
"Last week" = "la semana pasada" or "la pasada semana" ??

I have noticed that my Latin American friends who speak English don't quite use "next week" correctly in English. If, on Wednesday, they're talking about something that is going to happen two days from now they say "next Friday". When I am talking about two days from now I say "this Friday". When I say/hear "next Friday", I think "next week Friday". What are the distinctions in Spanish?

I was just thinking of "thinking"

This is good, it helps to understand us in a more intimate way. How we organize things in our heads. I love "talking" in these terms.

"Last week" means both, if you will. Both are ok.

And help me understand you: When talking two days from now and now is Wednesday you think of "this (coming) Friday" or just "this Friday"?

When you hear/say "next Friday", do you think of "next week (on) Friday" even if today is Wednesday? What happens if today, as it happens to be, is Saturday?

For us, at least in Chile, when we say "next" it means próximo (next), we can say "viernes próximo or próximo viernes or viernes venidero or viernes que viene or éste viernes" all will have the same meaning. (Unless there is an exception that I am not taking in account, which I don't think so)

El viernes de la semana que viene/semana próxima etc. = On Friday next week/next week (on) Friday

Este Viernes =This (coming) Friday

Coming = "venidero" or "que viene"

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by chileno

And help me understand you: When talking two days from now and now is Wednesday you think of "this (coming) Friday" or just "this Friday"? Correct - both... if today is Wednesday, two days from now can be either of the things you've said here.

When you hear/say "next Friday", do you think of "next week (on) Friday" even if today is Wednesday? What happens if today, as it happens to be, is Saturday? Whatever day it is, when I hear "next Friday", I think "next WEEK Friday". Even if today is Saturday. I'm going to New York next Friday. Today IS Saturday, and six days from now I'm going to New York.

For us, at least in Chile, when we say "next" it means próximo (next), we can say "viernes próximo or próximo viernes or viernes venidero or viernes que viene or éste viernes" all will have the same meaning. (Unless there is an exception that I am not taking in account, which I don't think so)

El viernes de la semana que viene/semana próxima etc. = On Friday next week/next week (on) Friday

Este Viernes =This (coming) Friday

Coming = "venidero" or "que viene"

Very interesting......

[Rusty]

The difference between 'this Friday' and 'next Friday' kills me everytime it's mentioned.

I think we can all agree that 'this week' and 'next week' definitely do not mean the same thing. So, applying the same logic, several people would say that 'this Friday' and 'next Friday' couldn't possibly mean the same thing.

Here's my take, using dictionary definitions of the determiners (adjectives) 'this' and 'next'.

'This' means 'the thing nearer in place of two like items' or 'the current thing'.

'Next' means 'immediately following' or 'adjacent to'. To make things easier, let augment the definitions to:
'the like item immediately following the thing' or
'the like item adjacent to the thing'

When discussing a particular day of the week as the thing, we need to focus on that particular thing; the other six days of the week are other items, not like items.


Now, let's substitute 'Friday' as the thing and the like item(s) in the definitions.

We get 'the Friday nearer in place of two Fridays' and 'the current Friday' for 'this Friday'. These may not refer to the same thing.

We get 'the Friday immediately following Friday' and 'the Friday adjacent to Friday' for 'next Friday'.


So, 'this Friday' and 'next Friday' DO mean the same thing, if today is not Friday (rule out the current-Friday definition; it can't apply if today is not currently Friday).
If today is Friday, 'this Friday' could mean TODAY, just like 'this day' means TODAY, if we use the current-Friday definition. I think most Americans would throw out the current-Friday definition and assume the person meant 'next' Friday (see next sentence).
If today is Friday, 'next Friday' means 'the Friday immediately following Friday' and 'the Friday adjacent to Friday'. It would never mean that we skip a Friday, and it never means the current Friday (today).

[laepelba]

Wow! We get six cents from Rusty.

I agree with everything you've said there, Rusty ... except that language is about communication, and if I fail to communicate a date correctly or fail to understand someone else's communication of a date correctly, then we're all in trouble. Since discovering this tendency that my Latin American friends have for using "next (Fri)day" differently than I do, I have started to over-specify dates (etc.) when talking with them. If I mean "next Friday", I might say "I'm going to New York next week Friday, 4/16", adding two other qualifiers that I wouldn't necessarily add if I were, say, explaining to my mother when I'm leaving for New York. ("Mom, I'm going to New York next Friday." Mom gets exactly what I mean....)

[CrOtALiTo]

You're going to visit New York the next week.
I hope that you have a nice travel.
and that you get funny during the trip.

I having you envy.

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by CrOtALiTo

You're going to visit New York the next week.
I hope that you have a nice trip.
and that you get funny have fun during the trip.

I having you envy you.

Thanks, Crotalito. I often go to New York because my best friend lives just outside the city, and works IN the city. I like DC better (where I live)!!

[chileno]

Originally Posted by Rusty

'This' means 'the thing nearer in place of two like items' or 'the current thing'.

'Next' means 'immediately following' or 'adjacent to'. To make things easier, let augment the definitions to:
'the like item immediately following the thing' or
'the like item adjacent to the thing'

When discussing a particular day of the week as the thing, we need to focus on that particular thing; the other six days of the week are otherlike items.

I haven't been able to read anything that relates to "things" in relation to other "things" in dictionaries, namely RAE and Merriam-Webster.

Next=próximo means that follows immediately, and "this" is this. :-)

[laepelba]

So I was at my weekly orchestra rehearsal tonight (every Wednesday) and our director made a comment about something that's going to happen "next Thursday", and someone corrected him and said "you mean a week from Thursday", and he said "Thursday a week". It's definitely a less commonly used way of stating it, but "Thursday a week" is definitely understood to mean a week from Thursday, as in "not tomorrow, but a week from tomorrow" ... or, "next week Thursday".

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Thanks, Crotalito. I often go to New York because my best friend lives just outside the city, and works IN the city. I like DC better (where I live)!!

Thank you for the corrections.

Just I don't know New York, I'd like to know that place and I hope one day do it.

It's good that you've good friends there in New York.
Good trip.

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

So I was at my weekly orchestra rehearsal tonight (every Wednesday) and our director made a comment about something that's going to happen "next Thursday", and someone corrected him and said "you mean a week from Thursday", and he said "Thursday a week". It's definitely a less commonly used way of stating it, but "Thursday a week" is definitely understood to mean a week from Thursday, as in "not tomorrow, but a week from tomorrow" ... or, "next week Thursday".

As long as there is an understanding of what day is the correct day...