Please, check these sentences - Page 2

irmamar

October 15, 2010 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perikles (Post 97168)

OK, but still in this context you would say "I understood" as a translation of "tengo entendido". Others may disagree, but I still think this could be a present subjunctive in English. It may be just politeness, and the English are always polite :rolleyes:. Somebody has corrected you, and rather than assert that the person is wrong (which "I understand" implies) you give to understand that the person is right, even if you don't think so. :thinking:

Are you sure that the English are always polite? :thinking: :D

I don't understand your last sentence (should I say I didn't understand?) :confused:

Perikles

October 15, 2010 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 97169)

Are you sure that the English are always polite? :thinking: :D

Well, the ones I associate with are, but hoi polloi can be quite rude.

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 97169)

I don't understand your last sentence (should I say I didn't understand?) :confused:

No, you should say "I don't understand". This is a different situation. Imagine a conversation such as:

A: I think President Obama is doing a good job.
B: But the President is George Bush
A: Oh - but I thought the President's name was Obama

Here, A is being polite. If he said "I think the President's name is Obama" this is a direct disagreement which could be considered impolite. He uses the past tense (or present subjunctive) to suggest a difference, rather than state it.

irmamar

October 15, 2010 01:02 PM

OK, I understand. Now I don't understand what is hoi polloi.

And, well, I don't think that the English I've met in some places (for instance, in the beach) are very polite. :rolleyes:

You are extremely polite, by the way. :) :rose:

Perikles

October 15, 2010 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 97173)

OK, I understand. Now I don't understand what is hoi polloi.

I'm surprised - Look here. :)

irmamar

October 15, 2010 01:40 PM

Surprised? :confused:

pjt33

October 15, 2010 01:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 97169)

Are you sure that the English are always polite? :thinking: :D

Only to people they don't like :P

Perikles

October 15, 2010 02:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar (Post 97180)

Surprised? :confused:

I thought you had learned some Greek. :thinking:

Quote:

Originally Posted by pjt33 (Post 97181)

Only to people they don't like :P

:lol::lol:

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