| michaelbr |
February 23, 2014 08:20 PM |
Quote:
Originally Posted by pjt33
(Post 147335)
Both of these questions are ambiguous as to whether you're asking about the Spanish or my translation. However, I don't think that either the Spanish or my translation is really an idiom. The information which provides the subtext comes as much from the tone of voice as from a mental dictionary of phrases. Both ¿Cómo quieres que no? and What do you expect? would be used with non-verbal cues of frustration and/or anger to convey Of course, and you must be stupid or emotionally insensitive to think that I wouldn't be!
¿Cómo quieres que no lo estemos? has two verbs which conjugate independently. What do you expect? has a modal verb + infinitive structure, in which only the modal verb conjugates.
Pretender :ne: pretend. Pretend is fingir. Pretender can be aspire, intend, try, expect.
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Thanks for your reply and explanation. Sorry I wasn't clear, I was asking about the Spanish, after such detailed explanation, it's clearer now. There are some subtle differences between Portuguese X Spanish. For instance, in Portuguese we say Estoy furioso!, but in Spanish we say ¡Soy furioso!, so I have to remember those differences. I was confused about the lo, what it was referring to, now it's clear.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Hiperbólico
(Post 147343)
I think the closest meaningful translation is...
How could you possibly think that we're not (whatever)?. The lo is the "whatever" and could refer to anger or disbelief.
-- ¿Estás enojado?
-- ¡Soy furioso! ¿Cómo quieres que no lo esté?
As per other suggestions, it conveys the meaning of "What do you expect?" or "What do you think?" and can be expressed in different tones.
-- Le importa más a él el dinero que el ambiente.
-- ¿Cómo quieres que no lo esté? Es un político.
(pretty sure about this, but not 100%. please correct misconceptions if any)
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Thanks, after the explanations, now is clearer. |
