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Simple translation

 

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  #1  
Old June 10, 2013, 03:52 PM
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Simple translation

Is the translation of this simple sentence too word-for-word or is it correct?

How is life now that you are not working?

¿Cómo es la vida ahora que usted no trabaja?
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  #2  
Old June 10, 2013, 04:45 PM
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It is correct.
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Old June 10, 2013, 04:56 PM
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The sentence is correct. It isn't necessary to say the subject pronoun in the secondary clause because it would be easily understood that you are addressing another person. The person you used indicates formality. If this is a friend, you wouldn't use the third person.

There are, of course, other ways to ask the same thing.
Here are a few examples using the second person:
Ya que (ahora) no trabajas, ¿cómo te va la vida?
¿Qué tal la vida ya que ahora no trabajas?
Tras dejar de trabajar, ¿cómo son las cosas?
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Old June 10, 2013, 05:22 PM
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Thanks so much for your answers. I was hoping it was a satisfactory translation because it was easy and makes sense to me. I'm looking forward to learning more about 'word order' so I can translate more accurately according to how a Spanish speaker would actually talk.

I'll be searching for some instruction on word order, because now about all I know is that adjectives often come after the nouns. And I'm weary of learning Spanish words...I'm really ready to put sentences together. If any of you know of a good 'helper' online page or book that focuses on that, please let me know.
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Old June 10, 2013, 07:51 PM
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I think any elementary Spanish workbook with writing excercises can help. They will show you simple sentence structure, and you can go on from there.
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