Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar


Change in meaning between these four phrases

 

This is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish.


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old July 04, 2011, 06:05 PM
CobaltStymie's Avatar
CobaltStymie CobaltStymie is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Posts: 13
Native Language: English
CobaltStymie is on a distinguished road
Change in meaning between these four phrases

Pardon me, but I thought I might check my understanding of these four phrases. I was working with a grammar book of the Spanish language. These phrases are my own, composed by me, so they are probably not proper Spanish. But, what I would like to know is if my understanding of the grammatical principles set forth in the book that I used to compose these phrases makes sense.

In other words, I was reading the grammatical principles of the book. Created these phrases according to those various grammatical principles, and then tried to interpret their meaning. I assure you, that this is not the only way I learn spanish. This is just one thing that I wanted to do.

In any case, they all have to do with time:

¿Cuanto tiempo hay?

I think this might mean, "How much time is there?"(I think this would be appropriate if there was a deadline)

¿Cuanto está el tiempo?

I think this might mean something like, "What is the time?" (As in, How long has it been?)

¿Como es el tiempo?

I imagine someone would say something like this if they wanted to know how fast their run was at a race track. "What is the time?"(Was It faster than the last one?)

¿Que tiempo hay? "What time is available?"(I think might be accurate?)

I'm sure there are others.

What would be the most natural way of getting each of these grammatical points across?
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old July 04, 2011, 06:27 PM
aleCcowaN's Avatar
aleCcowaN aleCcowaN is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: Sierra de la Ventana, Argentina
Posts: 3,143
Native Language: Castellano
aleCcowaN is on a distinguished road
¿Cuánto tiempo hay? =~ ¿Qué tiempo hay? (How much time is left?)
¿Cómo es el tiempo? =(something like) How does weather use to be?
¿Cuánto está el tiempo? --> It doesn't make sense. I looks like you are asking the price of time or weather.
__________________
Sorry, no English spell-checker
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old July 04, 2011, 09:56 PM
CobaltStymie's Avatar
CobaltStymie CobaltStymie is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: San Antonio, TX.
Posts: 13
Native Language: English
CobaltStymie is on a distinguished road
Oh. Ok. Thank you aleCcowan.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old July 05, 2011, 10:23 AM
Luna Azul Luna Azul is offline
Emerald
 
Join Date: Mar 2011
Posts: 792
Luna Azul is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by CobaltStymie View Post

¿Cuánto tiempo hay?
I think this might mean, "How much time is there?"(I think this would be appropriate if there was a deadline)
It's not the most common way to say it, but it might mean "How much time is left?"
Best way: ¿Cuánto tiempo queda?

¿Cuánto está el tiempo?
I think this might mean something like, "What is the time?" (As in, How long has it been?) This doesn't mean any thing

¿Cómo es el tiempo?
I imagine someone would say something like this if they wanted to know how fast their run was at a race track. "What is the time?"(Was It faster than the last one?) It would be a peculiar way to say "What does the weather look like".
Best way: "¿Cómo está el tiempo?", but I'm afraid it will always be talking about the weather, not time.

¿Qué tiempo hay? "What time is available?"(I think might be accurate?) This one would mean the same as the first one: "How much time is left?"
Luna Azul
__________________

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

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Meaning Changes - Ser vs. Estar laepelba Grammar 33 April 25, 2014 10:21 AM
Can most of the verbs be used with a reflexive meaning? ceri Grammar 7 August 21, 2010 11:19 PM
Verbs that change meaning in preterite practice cmon Practice & Homework 13 February 23, 2010 12:43 AM
can you help me with the meaning of this? anthony Culture 4 July 13, 2007 01:21 AM
Need to know meaning heather-lilmama Vocabulary 6 May 07, 2007 10:12 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 09:45 AM.

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

X