¿¿¡¡que!!??

laepelba · #1 April 26, 2009, 04:10 AM

I have noticed in many places that "que" is used at the beginning of a short statement that is not a question. What does this signify? I have had trouble understanding...

Examples:
- ¡Que viva el Viernes! - I know that the intent is that it's good that it's Friday. How does "que" fit in here?
- Que alegre. - Not quite sure what this means. I know what "alegre" means ... but not the whole statement.
- ¡Que lástima! - Does this mean "what a shame"?
- Que alegria que te guste tanto. - a friend wrote this on my Facebook wall (I said that I liked the plant that she got me for my new house). I get it that she's saying that she's glad that I like it (the plant). I don't get the "que" and I don't get the "guste" conjugation.

Ambarina · #2 April 26, 2009, 04:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laepelba

I have noticed in many places that "que" is used at the beginning of a short statement that is not a question. What does this signify? I have had trouble understanding...

Examples:
- ¡Que viva el Viernes! - I know that the intent is that it's good that it's Friday. How does "que" fit in here? This is an expression. "Que viva....." as in "Long live...." e.g. "Que viva el rey", often used without the "que". "Viva el rey", Long live the king! With "Viva el viernes" it's the same only in English you'd probably say something like TGIF (Thank God It's Friday).
- Que alegre. - Not quite sure what this means. I know what "alegre" means ... but not the whole statement. Here the "Que" would be translated as "How..." "Que alegre estás" How happy you look.
- ¡Que lástima! - Does this mean "what a shame"? Yes
- Que alegria que te guste tanto. - a friend wrote this on my Facebook wall (I said that I liked the plant that she got me for my new house). I get it that she's saying that she's glad that I like it (the plant). I don't get the "que" and I don't get the "guste" conjugation. Again the "How" meaning for "Que" as in How happy I am that you liked it (literal translation). The "guste" is the subjunctive form of "gustar.

Espero que hayas entendido.

laepelba · #3 April 26, 2009, 09:48 AM

Thank you!!! And, yes - I definitely understand your explanations. Thank you. Two follow-up questions...

1) Would you mind giving me some more examples of "que" used this way? That would be very helpful!

2) I haven't really started working with the subjunctive yet, so I only have a very superficial understanding of it. Can you explain to me a bit more why she wouldn't have used "te gusta" instead? What is the subtle difference in meaning there?

Thank you again!!

Ambarina · #4 April 26, 2009, 10:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laepelba

Thank you!!! And, yes - I definitely understand your explanations. Thank you. Two follow-up questions...

1) Would you mind giving me some more examples of "que" used this way? That would be very helpful!

2) I haven't really started working with the subjunctive yet, so I only have a very superficial understanding of it. Can you explain to me a bit more why she wouldn't have used "te gusta" instead? What is the subtle difference in meaning there?

Thank you again!!

1) Ok. I'll give you the example and you try and figure out what it means.

Someone looking at the "Sagrada Familia" in Barcelona: ¡Que maravilla!
A child looking at an elephant: ¡Que grande!
An American tasting a dish of mushy peas: ¡Que asco!
Someone tells you their dog has died: ¡Que pena!

2) This is a grammar question I'm afraid and I wouldn't want to mess you up if you haven't studied it yet. It's just that with clauses starting with "que" you have to use the subjunctive. i.e. in the example you gave ¡Que alegría que te guste! - I'm so happy THAT you like it. "that" being the equivalent of "que" OK?
So how would you say: What a shame/pity that you don't like it.

laepelba · #5 April 26, 2009, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ambarina

1) Ok. I'll give you the example and you try and figure out what it means.

Someone looking at the "Sagrada Familia" in Barcelona: ¡Que maravilla! ' not sure of this one because - "What a wonder!"
A child looking at an elephant: ¡Que grande! - "How huge!"
An American tasting a dish of mushy peas: ¡Que asco! - "How disgusting!"
Someone tells you their dog has died: ¡Que pena! - "What a sorrow!" (Although we wouldn't quite say that....)

2) This is a grammar question I'm afraid and I wouldn't want to mess you up if you haven't studied it yet. It's just that with clauses starting with "que" you have to use the subjunctive. i.e. in the example you gave ¡Que alegría que te guste! - I'm so happy THAT you like it. "that" being the equivalent of "que" OK?
So how would you say: What a shame/pity that you don't like it.

How about this: "Que lástima que no te guste." ??

COOL! The teacher has put me to work! ¡Que fantástico!

(Right?)

Ambarina · #6 April 26, 2009, 10:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by laepelba

COOL! The teacher has put me to work! ¡Que fantástico!

Riiiiiiight!

Someone looking at the "Sagrada Familia" in Barcelona: ¡Que maravilla! ' not sure of this one because - "What a wonder!"
A child looking at an elephant: ¡Que grande! - "How huge!"
An American tasting a dish of mushy peas: ¡Que asco! - "How disgusting!"
Someone tells you their dog has died: ¡Que pena! - "What a sorrow!" (Although we wouldn't quite say that....) But you might say "What a pity"

How about this: "Que lástima que no te guste." ¡Perfecto! And you could also use "pena" instead of "lástima". Get my drift? - see correlation with previous sentence.