#1  
Old February 13, 2010, 11:27 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Somewhere or other

In a country which was somewhere or other, there lived...

This is a sentence from a tale. Does 'somewhere or other' mean 'en cualquier pais'? Is this a common sentence in tales? (I mean, such as 'once upon a time').

Thanks.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old February 13, 2010, 11:35 AM
Perikles's Avatar
Perikles Perikles is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Tenerife
Posts: 4,814
Native Language: Inglés
Perikles is on a distinguished road
Yes, it means that it doesn't matter in context. But it can matter in common speech -

A: Have you seen the newspaper?

B: Yes, I saw it somewhere or other.

(= I know it exists, but I can't remember exactly where I saw it)

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old February 13, 2010, 11:41 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
That's what I guessed, but I don't remember having seen it before.

Many thanks.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old February 13, 2010, 12:44 PM
chileno's Avatar
chileno chileno is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: Las Vegas, USA
Posts: 7,863
Native Language: Castellano
chileno is on a distinguished road
Y eso se traduce como "estaba en alguna parte/algún lugar..."
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old February 13, 2010, 12:49 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Gracias, Chileno.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old February 13, 2010, 02:01 PM
pjt33's Avatar
pjt33 pjt33 is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: Valencia, España
Posts: 2,600
Native Language: Inglés (en-gb)
pjt33 is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Is this a common sentence in tales?
No. ¿Dónde la has visto? Me suena a The Princess Bride.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old February 14, 2010, 12:23 AM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33 View Post
No. ¿Dónde la has visto? Me suena a The Princess Bride.
¿No es común en cuentos?

Es un cuento de mi libro de texto de inglés.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old February 14, 2010, 10:26 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
In a country which was somewhere or other, there lived...

Is this a common sentence in tales? (I mean, such as 'once upon a time').

Thanks.
Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33 View Post
No. ¿Dónde la has visto? Me suena a The Princess Bride.
Oh, I don't know that it's necessarily UNcommon. I mean, if you start a story with "Once upon a time....", I would not be surprised to see ".... somewhere or other ....." in that story. Maybe it's more common in the US?
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old February 14, 2010, 12:21 PM
irmamar's Avatar
irmamar irmamar is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 7,071
Native Language: Español
irmamar is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Oh, I don't know that it's necessarily UNcommon. I mean, if you start a story with "Once upon a time....", I would not be surprised to see ".... somewhere or other ....." in that story. Maybe it's more common in the US?
Yes, it starts "Once upon a time...".

Do you prefer to say story instead of tale? (I mean 'cuento infantil').
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old February 14, 2010, 12:53 PM
hermit hermit is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: scotsburn, nova scotia
Posts: 617
Native Language: english
hermit is on a distinguished road
Hi Irmamar - In conversation, the term 'story' is more commonly used.

'Tale' is more a literary term, as in "A Tale of Two Cities" (book title).

Conversationally, however, someone exaggerating a real-life story may be described as "telling tall tales".
__________________
"Be brief, for no discourse can please when too long."
miguel de cervantes saavedra
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 
Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 04:28 AM.

Forum powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.

X