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Translating a simple paragraph (Exercise 1-18)Practice Spanish or English here. All replies to a thread should be in the same language as the first post. |
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Translating a simple paragraph (Exercise 1-18)
I have been working through a book of basic Spanish grammar exercises, in an attempt to fill in some of the "holes" in the learning that I've done so far. It has been (I believe) very fruitful so far.
One of the exercises in the section on "present tense verbs" asks me to translate a simple paragraph from English to Spanish. I did okay for the most part - only needed to look up a small handful of words, and the majority of the errors I made (according to their "answer" in the back of the book) were prepositions, etc. I want to ask some questions, though. So I'm going to include here (1) the original English paragraph, (2) my original translation, and (3) the "corrected" translation. I will indicate my questions at the bottom of this post.
My questions are as follows: (1) Does "salir" always have to be followed by "de" or "a" (leaving "from" or "to" somewhere)? (2) In English I would say "my car", but I thought in Spanish that if it's obvious whose car I'd be driving, you use the definite article instead of the possessive. ?? (3) Hasta? Really? (4) I'm not sure why they dropped this phrase. Is it okay to be there? (5) Ditto question #4 - why did they not use "el suelo"? There are lots of things in a house that one can vacuum... Is it okay to be there? (6) Luego o después ... does it matter which? (7) "la pone en ..." or "pone la rope en..." Are they also the same? Does it matter? (8) Someone once told me that you "entrar" a room, but they use "venir". Is there a difference? (9) Favorito o preferido? The same in this context? (10) I had to look up the word for dishwasher. The original English made it sound like "cargar" was an appropriate word. But their translation is quite different. Are both okay? (11) Ver el televisor or mirar el televisor? Does it matter? (12) Again, I'm not sure why they left out this entire phrase. Is what I wrote okay? Does it work? Answers to these questions and all other thoughts/comments are most welcome! As always, thank you immensely!!
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! Last edited by laepelba; January 31, 2010 at 05:26 AM. |
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#2
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For what it's worth, I'll add my few thoughts before somebody else does who knows better:
1) In your case yes - salir de = to leave from something. Salir on its own = to go out 2) The use of el and la is usually restricted to parts of the body. (Some would claim that a car is exactly that, especially for young men ) 3) Yes - hasta used spacially = to, right up to. (a la oficina could mean in the direction of the office , but hasta says you actually arrived there) 5) ? Perhaps you only vacuum floors in Spain, so it's redundant. 6) same to me 8) My dictionary agrees with you. To come in = entrar 11) Again mirar televisión to watch television |
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Todos los días salgo de mi casa a las siete. Conduzco mi/el carro/auto a/hasta la oficina y allí trabajo duro. Cuando vuelvo a (la) casa, hago los quehaceres de la casa. ¡Gracias a Dios por los aparatos electrodomésticos! Convenzo a mis hijos y mi esposo a ayudarme, y todos compartimos el trabajo. Mi esposo pasa la aspiradora por el suelo. Pongo la ropa en la lavadora y después mi hija Mati la seca en la secadora y la pone en los armarios. Asigno los quehaceres de la casa. Entonces, propongo un plan para cena. Mi hijo Rob entra en la cocina y escucha mis instrucciones. El horno de microondas es el aparato favorito de Rob y prepara comidas rápidas. Después de la cena, Rob y Mati cargan la lavavajillas (lavaplatos). ¡Ahora, merezco un descanso, y leo mis programas favoritos en el televisor! Last edited by chileno; January 31, 2010 at 08:29 AM. |
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(4) "a ayudarme" for me is correct, if not is quite and inexact translation. Not clear at all.
(7) The same in meaning. (if you want, while saying twice "ropa" you are giving it more emphasis, but they are the same practically) (9) Same. (10) lavavajilla. 1. amb. Arg. lavaplatos (‖ máquina). As you see, for me is ok your phrase, I would translate it as you have done (but here we use it with masculine gender and in plural, "el lavavajillas"). But I think in other countrys would be more common to say lavaplatos or even to explain it as the book has done. So "cargar", if you don't know how the machine is, maybe would be confusing. In conclusion, I belive that yours is a more accurate translation than the book one, but it depends on the country and if you want to be neutral or not, taking in account that is a relative "new" machine. (12) Yours. Edit: chileno won, but I left my post equally. (how can I say "pero dejo mi mensaje de todas maneras"?)
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Please, don't hesitate to correct my English. 'Time is a sort of river of passing events, and strong is its current; no sooner is a thing brought to sight than it is swept by and another takes its place, and this too will be swept away.' M.A.
Last edited by ookami; January 31, 2010 at 08:34 AM. |
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I tried translating the text myself and would like to know if these phrases are right (taking into account I’m using Spanish from Spain and English from the UK!!) I drive my car to the office = I don’t think people here normally say I drive my car (conducir mi coche) . I would translate that as conduzco hasta la oficina. (If we were going to include car I would say el coche) Los quehaceres domésticos = Las tareas domésticas/ de casa?? Mis hijos y mi esposo = Marido is more usual in Spain?? The microwave is Rob’s favorite appliance= Can we use favorito in the translation? Load the dishwasher = Here we say poner el lavavajillas I used Pasar la aspirardora = el suelo is redundant entrar en la cocina I would live to hear your comments if you have time! |
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Lou Ann, there are things which are corrected and I think you did a good translation Y la pone en los armarios (why repeating "la ropa" again?). I understand perfectly that you're talking about clothes. To avoid redundancy: y la guarda en los armarios. You can say: convenzo a... para que me ayuden. Why not "después de la cena"? Other things have been already commented. Last edited by irmamar; January 31, 2010 at 11:17 AM. |
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Irmamar,
Thank you so much for your comments; I appreciate it. |
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No se por qué lo dices, pero leo la programación de la tele como también la veo en la misma tele.
Tú no? |
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Thanks all for the answers! It helps a lot!!
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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