Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Grammar
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search PenpalsTranslator


How do I change this sentence from the simple present to the past perfect?

 

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 January 24, 2013, 01:04 AM
Yoodle15 Yoodle15 is offline
Pearl
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 135
Yoodle15 is on a distinguished road
How do I change this sentence from the simple present to the past perfect?

"Ud. tiene un problema con la reserva del hotel, dígaselo al gerente."

"Ud había tenido un problema con la reserva del hotel, _____________."

I have no idea how to convert the order in the second part of the sentence to the past perfect. Any help?

Thank you in advance.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old January 24, 2013, 01:58 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by Yoodle15 View Post
"Ud. tiene un problema con la reserva del hotel, dígaselo al gerente."

"Ud había tenido un problema con la reserva del hotel, _____________."

I have no idea how to convert the order in the second part of the sentence to the past perfect. .
I'm not sure the task makes much sense. As far as I can see, the present is simply an open conditional and imperative: If....tell the management. Changing this to a past tense is pointless.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old January 24, 2013, 03:56 AM
carlosvilas's Avatar
carlosvilas carlosvilas is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Madrid (Spain)
Posts: 25
Native Language: Spanish
carlosvilas is on a distinguished road
I agree with Perikles...

You could translate it to the past perfect: "dígaselo al gerente" => "se lo dijo al gerente"... but the sentence doesn't make any sense.

Last edited by carlosvilas; January 24, 2013 at 05:20 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old January 24, 2013, 08:07 AM
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
¿Cómo que no?

Esta persona está relatando que había tenido un problema y se lo dijo al gerente.

El problema para mí es que "dígaselo" es Imperativo....

Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old January 24, 2013, 08:14 AM
carlosvilas's Avatar
carlosvilas carlosvilas is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Madrid (Spain)
Posts: 25
Native Language: Spanish
carlosvilas is on a distinguished road
Quizás si cambiamos la coma (,) por un "y"... la frase tiene sentido...

"Ud había tenido un problema con la reserva del hotel y se lo dijo al gerente"

Aun así, qué ejemplo más raro
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old January 24, 2013, 12:28 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
Aún así, parece que uds no usan tanto ese pasado, no?

"Ud había tenido un problema con la reserva del hotel, se lo dijo al gerente, ¿qué más hizo?"

Right?


Last edited by chileno; January 24, 2013 at 09:31 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old January 24, 2013, 08:36 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,102
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
@Yoodle: It's natural that you can't put your whole sentence in the past, since the imperative mood does not have a past tense.
If you want a sentence to make sense both in present and in past, you need to use indicative or subjunctive moods.

Otherwise, you should change the meaning and structure of your sentence to make it acquire some sense in the past. Something like: "Usted tuvo problemas con su reservación; debió decírselo al gerente".
In present, you said that since you're having trouble with your booking, so you must tell the manager about it; my sentence in the past says that you had trouble with your booking before, but you didn't tell the manager about it.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

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
Help with the present perfect subjunctive... ayúdame Practice & Homework 5 November 18, 2012 11:49 PM
Pluperfect vs present perfect szappala Grammar 2 April 25, 2012 05:44 PM
Past Perfect? chanman Grammar 4 July 18, 2011 08:46 PM
Present perfect practice cmon Practice & Homework 5 April 11, 2009 06:21 PM
The present perfect. Jane Grammar 6 March 11, 2008 10:06 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:26 PM.

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

X