Ask a Question

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


Ropa

 

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 March 28, 2010, 05:54 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Question Ropa

I am looking at the following example sentence:

English: He wears old clothes.
Spanish: Lleva ropas viejas.

At least that's what the workbook says is the correct answer. Is "ropas" supposed to be plural? When does one use "ropa" and when does one use "ropas"?
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2  
Old March 28, 2010, 06:38 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
I am looking at the following example sentence:

English: He wears old clothes.
Spanish: Lleva ropas viejas.

At least that's what the workbook says is the correct answer. Is "ropas" supposed to be plural? When does one use "ropa" and when does one use "ropas"?
Wear = lleva (carry) or viste (dress)

Ropas = clothes
Ropa = clothes

Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old March 28, 2010, 07:29 AM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post
Wear = lleva (carry) or viste (dress)

Ropas = clothes
Ropa = clothes

So, when does one use "ropa" and when does one use "ropas"?
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old March 28, 2010, 12:04 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by laepelba View Post
So, when does one use "ropa" and when does one use "ropas"?
Anytime you refer in English to "clothes"

Now, speak English to me, and I"ll show you what I mean.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old March 28, 2010, 12:32 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,038
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
"Ropa" is the usual and general word, but when you want to put an emphasis on the pieces of clothing the person is wearing, you say "ropas". Still, the plural feels either too literary or archaic for some of us.

"Lleva ropa vieja" would be perfectly understood in all contexts.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old March 28, 2010, 05:04 PM
María José's Avatar
María José María José is offline
The Rebel Fairy
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 1,765
Native Language: Spanish
María José is on a distinguished road
I agree with Angélica. In fact, I would say I never use the plural.
__________________
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."
from Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old March 28, 2010, 09:42 PM
laepelba's Avatar
laepelba laepelba is offline
Diamond
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Suburbs of Washington, DC (Northern Virginia)
Posts: 4,683
Native Language: American English (Northeastern US)
laepelba is on a distinguished road
Thanks, all - I wrote my answer to the exercise in the singular, but the answer key had the plural. It just didn't sound right. This is very helpful.
__________________
- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA
Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias!
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old March 29, 2010, 09:09 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by María José View Post
I agree with Angélica. In fact, I would say I never use the plural.


In Chile es customary to say:

Esa ropa vieja que traes puestas debieras botarlas a la basura.

Or

Esas ropas viejas que llevas puestas debieran estar en el basurero ya.

Esos trapos viejos que te gusta tanto usar se ven tan mal en ti...
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old March 30, 2010, 02:22 AM
María José's Avatar
María José María José is offline
The Rebel Fairy
 
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: Madrid
Posts: 1,765
Native Language: Spanish
María José is on a distinguished road
Quote:
Originally Posted by chileno View Post


In Chile es customary to say:

Esa ropa vieja que traes puestas debieras botarlas a la basura.

Or

Esas ropas viejas que llevas puestas debieran estar en el basurero ya.

Esos trapos viejos que te gusta tanto usar se ven tan mal en ti...
Es que el charco es muy grande y algunas cosas tienen que ser distintas a la fuerza. Ahí está la gracia.
__________________
"When the first baby laughed for the first time, the laugh broke into a thousand pieces and they all went skipping about, and that was the beginning of fairies."
from Peter Pan by J.M.Barrie
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old March 30, 2010, 07:53 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
Quote:
Originally Posted by María José View Post
Es que el charco es muy grande y algunas cosas tienen que ser distintas a la fuerza. Ahí está la gracia.
Increiblemente lo que parece natural a unos, no lo es para otros.
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
La Ropa — Clothing bobjenkins Vocabulary by Topic 19 January 11, 2015 05:04 PM
Hay ropa tendida ? ROBINDESBOIS Idioms & Sayings 5 July 10, 2009 10:09 PM
Ropa DailyWord Daily Spanish Word 0 January 04, 2009 02:48 AM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:08 AM.

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

X