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Al pasar

 

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  #1  
Old August 15, 2009, 04:02 PM
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Al pasar

Hola, ¿Qué significa? y ¿cómo se usaría esa frase?

Voy a tratar
El gato anda con silencioso al pasar el perro - the cat walked silently past the dog

¿Hay una manera mejor para decirlo?


muchas gracias
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  #2  
Old August 15, 2009, 04:31 PM
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The al + infinitive structure is approximately translated into English as upon/on/when ___ing. (We normally use better-flowing wording.)

The cat walked (was walking) = el gato andaba
silently = silenciosamente
when it passed the dog = al pasar el perro

al encontrar __ yo __ = upon finding __ I'll __ = when I find __, I'll __

When I go by a store, I always look in the window.
Al pasar una tienda, siempre echo la vista por la ventana.
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  #3  
Old August 15, 2009, 06:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rusty View Post
The al + infinitive structure is approximately translated into English as upon/on/when ___ing. (We normally use better-flowing wording.)

The cat walked (was walking) = el gato andaba
silently = silenciosamente
when it passed the dog = al pasar el perro

al encontrar __ yo __ = upon finding __ I'll __ = when I find __, I'll __

When I go by a store, I always look in the window.
Al pasar una tienda, siempre echo la vista por la ventana.
muchas gracias por la buena información.
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  #4  
Old August 16, 2009, 12:58 AM
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I'd say:

Al pasar por delante de una tienda, siempre echo un vistazo al escaparate.

You can distinguish "always" from "at that moment":

Al pasar el perro, el gato anda silenciosamente (always)
Al pasar el perro, el gato anduvo silenciosamente (at that moment)
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Old August 16, 2009, 02:31 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
I'd say:

Al pasar por delante de una tienda, siempre echo un vistazo al escaparate.

You can distinguish "always" from "at that moment":

Al pasar el perro, el gato anda silenciosamente (always)
Al pasar el perro, el gato anduvo silenciosamente (at that moment)
Very interesting, ¡gracias!

Just out of curiosity, why is 'el gato anda' preferred as opposed to 'el gato andaba' in this case (or maybe even in general?)?

I mean, the imperfect is used for things that occur repetitively or are more or less habitual, correct? So I understand the distinction with the préterite in the second phrase, but why is it better to use the present indicative in sentnece 1?

Is it preferable to use this whenever we are talking about something that is habitual or occurs almost always, even if it is a sentence in the past (as it is still the case now, as it will always be?).
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Old August 16, 2009, 03:07 AM
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El gato anda silenciosamente (present)
Cuando pasa el perro, el gato siempre anda silenciosamente.
Mi gata duerme.
Cuando yo me levanto, mi gata siempre duerme (o está dormida o está durmiendo)
Los leones siempre cazan para comer.
Cuando los leones cazan, las gacelas siempre corren.
Yo leo un rato antes de dormir.
Cuando yo leo, siempre me entra sueño.

El gato andaba silenciosamente en ese momento. (impf)
Siempre que pasaba el perro, el gato andaba silenciosamente (surely that was Rusty's option)
Siempre que me levantaba, mi gata dormía (o estaba durmiendo).
Siempre que cazaban los leones, las gacelas corrían.
Siempre que leía, me entraba sueño.

El gato anduvo silenciosamente (indef.)
Cuando pasó el perro, el gato anduvo (se puso a andar) silenciosamente, just at that moment (that was my option). Al pasar means both "cuando pasó" and "mientras pasaba". El gato andaba y cuando pasó el perro anduvo (o se puso o empezó a andar) silenciosamente.
Cuando me levanté mi gata se durmió (también mi gata dormía todavía)
Cuando empezaron a cazar los leones, las gacelas se echaron a correr (no "se echaban a correr")
Me puse a leer y me dormí.
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  #7  
Old August 16, 2009, 03:30 AM
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Ok gracias irma

So if I understand this correctly it would be either:

1. Either presente or impf. for repetitive or habitual actions (with no sudden changes), as long as the whole sentence is in the same tense.
Mientras often being accompanied by impf.

2. Pretérito for any sudden changes, or actions at a specific point in time (which have a specific onset/beginning and ending). Not usually habitual or continuous, or not necessarily anyway.

Feel free if any of the above is incorrect or incomplete to correct it!
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  #8  
Old August 16, 2009, 03:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EmpanadaRica View Post
Ok gracias irma

So if I understand this correctly it would be either:

1. Either presente or impf. for repetitive or habitual actions (with no sudden changes), as long as the whole sentence is in the same tense.
Mientras often being accompanied by impf.

2. Pretérito for any sudden changes, or actions at a specific point in time (which have a specific onset/beginning and ending). Not usually habitual or continuous, or not necessarily anyway.

Feel free if any of the above is incorrect or incomplete to correct it!
Well, these are in these cases. There are more cases. Maybe this link is helpful (what you call pretérito, usually we say indefinido):

http://urban-sky.com/gramatica/htm/E...indefinido.htm
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Old August 16, 2009, 04:14 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by irmamar View Post
Well, these are in these cases. There are more cases. Maybe this link is helpful (what you call pretérito, usually we say indefinido):

http://urban-sky.com/gramatica/htm/E...indefinido.htm
Dank je!

¡Seguro que resultará muy útil!
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  #10  
Old August 16, 2009, 03:12 PM
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Gracias por la buena información!!

Trato de nuevo para entenderlo:P

Cada mañana el gato había andado lentamente al pasar el perro quien estaba durmiendo/dormía. Pero una madrugada el perro se levantaba y se había dado cuenta de que puede levantarse temprano para molestar el pobrecito. ''Suerte que tenga garras apuntadas'' el gato había pensado al ver del perro despierto esa madrugada. Después de que esa madrugada había pasado siempre nos había peleado en las mañanas. La gente del pueblo se había puesto acostumbrar de verlo.

Pero hoy el gato y el perro son amigos íntimos, y no hay luchas en el pueblo sino besos y abrazos
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