Maybe she / she may
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irmamar
October 24, 2009, 12:23 PM
I was translating a sentence from Spanish into English.
Cuando ella llegue, puede que quiera hacer algo (it's a longer sentence, but I've shortened it)
I wrote:
When she arrives, maybe she wants to do something.
But my book says:
When she arrives, she may want to do something.
I know that there is the possibility of different translations, so I'd like to know if my own sentence was wrong or not.
Thanks in advance.
:)
Cloudgazer
October 24, 2009, 12:57 PM
Cuando ella llegue, puede que quiera hacer algo
When she arrives, maybe she wants to do something. (This is fine. It is loose informal style with the present tense having future meaning.)
When she arrives, maybe she'll want to do something. (informal)
When she arrives, she may want to do something. (more formal in tone).
Nice job! :)
irmamar
October 24, 2009, 01:05 PM
Thanks, Cloud :rose:
Which one would you use in an exam?
Cloudgazer
October 24, 2009, 01:15 PM
Any time!
I'd probably use one of the last two choices on an exam.
irmamar
October 24, 2009, 01:19 PM
OK, on an exam :o
Thank you again :)
pjt33
October 24, 2009, 02:28 PM
When she arrives, maybe she wants to do something.
"She wants" present tense is wrong here. I'm not sure what the rule is, though. I can construct sentences with "When + present, present":
When I give the signal, I want you to turn off the lights.
Maybe the distinction is that I'm expressing a desire I currently have rather than a hypothetical future one.:?:
tacuba
October 24, 2009, 02:33 PM
"When she gets here, maybe she'll wanna do somethin'." (en broma)
irmamar
October 24, 2009, 11:32 PM
Tacuba, no me confundas :D :D
Why "get" here? Is it less formal than "arrive" or is it used in USA? :thinking:
tacuba
October 25, 2009, 10:49 AM
Tacuba, no me confundas :D :D
Why "get" here? Is it less formal than "arrive" or is it used in USA? :thinking:
Less formal and more common (at least in the U.S.).
When did you get here? and When did you arrive? are both perfectly acceptable, but using "arrive" sounds just a shade more formal.
The word "get" is so over-used in English that just thinking about its usage (at least in the U.S.) makes my head hurt.
irmamar
October 25, 2009, 12:08 PM
Thanks, Tacuba :) Yes, get is over-used, but when I use it, surely it's bad-used :D
Cloudgazer
October 25, 2009, 12:18 PM
Thanks for mentioning "When she gets here", Tacuba. It sounds the most natural by far. :star:
And you haven't poorly used «get» in the sentence above, Irma. :thumbsup:
irmamar
October 25, 2009, 12:20 PM
¿Un mal uso de una palabra se dice "poorly used"? :thinking:
Cloudgazer
October 25, 2009, 12:31 PM
Yeah. Bad is an adjective and poorly is an adverb. You could say badly, too. It's more informal. ¿Da sentido ya?
irmamar
October 25, 2009, 12:32 PM
Thanks, Cloud. :)
Cloudgazer
October 25, 2009, 12:39 PM
¡De nada, amiga!
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