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Two short sentences

 

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  #1  
Old February 20, 2011, 06:50 AM
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Exclamation Two short sentences

These two sentences are from my exercise book. They are completely without context ... just examples taken from a long list of sentences using "para". I don't understand the meaning of these two.

5) El taxi llegó cuando estaba para salir caminando.
My attempt at understanding it: The taxi arrived when it was for going walking.

6) Este trabajo es para el lunes a las cuatro en punto.
My attempt at understanding it: This work is for Monday at four o'clock on the dot.

I am positive that my understandings are wrong because they make absolutely no sense.............

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!
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  #2  
Old February 20, 2011, 07:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
5) El taxi llegó cuando estaba para salir caminando.
My attempt at understanding it: The taxi arrived when it was for going walking.

6) Este trabajo es para el lunes a las cuatro en punto.
My attempt at understanding it: This work is for Monday at four o'clock on the dot.

I am positive that my understandings are wrong because they make absolutely no sense.............

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!
5) The taxi arrived when I was on the point of going out on foot

6) Why does this make no sense? This work is to be finished by ..... on the dot. Would you not say that when handing out homework - to be done for Monday....etc.?
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  #3  
Old February 20, 2011, 07:36 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
These two sentences are from my exercise book. They are completely without context ... just examples taken from a long list of sentences using "para". I don't understand the meaning of these two.

5) El taxi llegó cuando estaba para salir caminando.
My attempt at understanding it: The taxi arrived when I/he/she was going for a walk or ...was ready to go walking/start walking.

6) Este trabajo es para el lunes a las cuatro en punto.
My attempt at understanding it: This work is for Monday at four o'clock on the dot. what is it you are not understanding, don't even look at the question in Spanish...

I am positive that my understandings are wrong because they make absolutely no sense.............

Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated!!

I hope it helps.
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  #4  
Old February 20, 2011, 07:42 AM
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Thanks to you both.

In #5, I missed the alternate conjugation of the verb "estaba", I was thinking "it was", but should have seen it as "I was"....

In #6, maybe it's a BrE vs. AmE thing. I would never hear "the work was for 4:00" as "it needs to be finished by 4:00". So this use of "para" indicates deadlines....
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  #5  
Old February 20, 2011, 09:12 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
In #6, maybe it's a BrE vs. AmE thing. I would never hear "the work was for 4:00" as "it needs to be finished by 4:00". So this use of "para" indicates deadlines....
Actually, it would perhaps be understood, but is bad English. I was stretching a point to make the English a literal translation of the Spanish. Your version is much better.
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  #6  
Old February 20, 2011, 09:13 AM
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Thanks for bearing with my detail-orientedness, Perikles.
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  #7  
Old February 20, 2011, 10:22 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
Thanks to you both.

In #5, I missed the alternate conjugation of the verb "estaba", I was thinking "it was", but should have seen it as "I was"....

In #6, maybe it's a BrE vs. AmE thing. I would never hear "the work was for 4:00" as "it needs to be finished by 4:00". So this use of "para" indicates deadlines....
Correct. I missed that... By Monday at 4pm....
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  #8  
Old February 20, 2011, 11:53 AM
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[QUOTE=laepelba;105793]These two sentences are from my exercise book. They are completely without context ... just examples taken from a long list of sentences using "para". I don't understand the meaning of these two.

5) El taxi llegó cuando estaba para salir caminando.
The taxi arrived when it was about to go for a walk

6) Este trabajo es para el lunes a las cuatro en punto.

This assignment is for Monday at four, the latest.
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  #9  
Old February 20, 2011, 11:57 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS View Post
El taxi llegó cuando estaba para salir caminando.
The taxi arrived when it was about to go for a walk
Spot the mistake
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  #10  
Old February 20, 2011, 12:09 PM
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@Lou Ann: (a time) o'clock = (hora) en punto
As for the taxi, it seems to have been taking too long for being there, so, as it's been said, I was about to walk to where I was going instead of waiting for the car to take me there.
(I was ready for walking, is the idea behind the "para", I guess)
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