Translating a simple paragraph (Exercise 5-13)

Translating a simple paragraph (Exercise 5-13)
 

Continuing to work through a book of basic Spanish grammar exercises, in an attempt to fill in some of the "holes" in the learning that I've done so far. It has been (I believe) very fruitful so far.

One of the exercises in the section on the imperfect tense asks me to translate a simple paragraph from English to Spanish. I did okay for the most part - only needed to look up a small handful of words, and the majority of the errors I made (according to their "answer" in the back of the book) were prepositions, etc. Unfortunately I DID make a couple of really "DOH!" mistakes....

I want to ask some questions, though. So I'm going to include here (1) the original English paragraph, (2) my original translation, and (3) the "corrected" translation. I will indicate my questions at the bottom of this post.




My questions are as follows:
(1) In two places here. Would someone explain to me the difference between "en" and "de" in this context?
(2) Are "presentar" and "mostrar" interchangeable here?
(3) In two places here. Are "maleta" and "equipaje" interchangeable here? For some reason, I have a feeling that they're not. If not, what is the difference?
(4) So, descansar can never be used with the pronoun except when it means to confide or to rely?
(5) Why "en" and not "a"?
(6) What is the difference between "Embarcaba en el..." and "Subía a la cabina del..."?
(7) I do NOT understand the rearrangement of phrases here. Please walk me through WHY it is like this....
(8) Two places here. Is this another situation where the definite article is used because it's obvious WHOSE pocket/hotel it is?
(9) Is this an error on the part of the book? The original says "a list" not "the list"...
(10) I used "las tiendas por departamentos" because I found it in a dictionary (probably Tomisimo's dictionary). So obviously I used the wrong word for department store (or did I?) If my original phrasing here were (YES) correct, where would "españoles" best be placed? (a) españoles tiendas por departamentos, (b) las tiendas por departamentos españoles, or (c) las tiendas españolas por departaments. I used (c), but I am really not at all sure. I've tried to keep in mind that other thread where Angelica gave the examples with the wool ladies and the straw children....
(11) Why imperfect instead of preterit? It seems to me that the arrival happened at a particular point in time.
(12) Are "entonces" and "después" interchangeable here?
(13) Are "parada" and "escala" interchangeable here?
(14) Why "perder" and not "perderse"?
(15) Are "empezar" and "iniciar" equivalent here?
(16) :banghead::banghead::banghead:
(17) Why no "a" in either of these two places?

THANK YOU!!!!!!

---------------

(1) In two places here. Would someone explain to me the difference between "en" and "de" in this context?
-- Hmmm... The airport is "the property" of the city, not just a spot in it. :)

(2) Are "presentar" and "mostrar" interchangeable here?
-- Yes.

(3) In two places here. Are "maleta" and "equipaje" interchangeable here? For some reason, I have a feeling that they're not. If not, what is the difference?
-- "Maleta" is a single suitcase. "Equipaje" is the whole set of suitcases and pieces of luggage.
In the second case, repetition of "equipaje" is ugly. :crazy:

(4) So, descansar can never be used with the pronoun except when it means to confide or to rely?
-- I have never seen "descansar" in a pronominal way. If you ask me, "descansarse" does not exist. :thinking:

(5) Why "en" and not "a"?
-- I don't know! It's just like that to me. :eek:
"A la puerta" would mean that someone is heading towards the door, not staying there... :thinking:

(6) What is the difference between "Embarcaba en el..." and "Subía a la cabina del..."?
-- I think "embarcar" is used mainly by airline personnel. :D
In any case, Mexicans use mostly "subir a un avión".
Your sentence could have been simply "Subía al avión".

(7) I do NOT understand the rearrangement of phrases here. Please walk me through WHY it is like this....
-- "To ask for" is NEVER translated as "pedir para"/"pedir por" (I think we have already been through this). :rolleyes:
Your sentence "pedía el asistente de viaje para una almohada" would mean that he asked to have the flight assistant to use him/her as a pillow. :eek: :D
Btw: "pedirle algo a alguien" => "pedirle una almohada al sobrecargo"
"Asistente de viaje" is too long and not widely used (not around here anyway): You can say "la sobrecargo/el sobrecargo" (some time ago one could also say "aeromoza"/"aeromozo", but now it's considered pejorative).

(8) Two places here. Is this another situation where the definite article is used because it's obvious WHOSE pocket/hotel it is?
-- Right.

(9) Is this an error on the part of the book? The original says "a list" not "the list"...
-- No, I don't think that's an error.
"A" in English is often used for "definite" situations in Spanish.
I think that "la lista" has a set of requested presents.
"Una lista" would mean to me that he has "guessed" things he could buy for his family. :thinking:
But that's what you're solving exercises for: to learn the feeling for the language. :)

(10) I used "las tiendas por departamentos" because I found it in a dictionary (probably Tomisimo's dictionary). So obviously I used the wrong word for department store (or did I?) If my original phrasing here were (YES) correct, where would "españolas" best be placed? (a) españolas tiendas por departamentos, (b) las tiendas por departamentos españolas, or (c) las tiendas españolas por departamentos. I used (c), but I am really not at all sure. I've tried to keep in mind that other thread where Angelica gave the examples with the wool ladies and the straw children....
-- I don't know if someone uses "tienda por departamentos" but: "tienda de departamentos" = "tiendas departamentales" = "almacenes"
The "closest relative" to your main word must not be far away from it: "tiendas españolas de departamentos" separates "tiendas de departamentos" and sentence becomes awkward. In this kind of construction, the main word is the noun and you have to see what complement must be closer to it so the meaning is clearer.

(11) Why imperfect instead of preterit? It seems to me that the arrival happened at a particular point in time.
-- Your whole paragraph is a story about the things Frank used to do.

(12) Are "entonces" and "después" interchangeable here?
-- Not exactly. :thinking:
"Entonces" is used when there is a "closer linked" chain of events. "Después" marks a different activity. If he had still been doing things at the airport, you could have used "entonces".

(13) Are "parada" and "escala" interchangeable here?
-- I'm not sure.
I use "parada" more for a bus or a car and "escala" as the standard word for airplanes, maybe for boats.

(14) Why "perder" and not "perderse"?
-- In this context:
"Perderse" is used for something you would have enjoyed.
- Me perdí el partido por estar trabajando.
I had been working, so I missed the game.
- Te perdiste el escándalo que hizo la esposa del jefe.
You missed the scandal that the boss' wife made.
"Perder" means to miss a bus, a plane, etc.

(15) Are "empezar" and "iniciar" equivalent here?
-- Yes: "determinó iniciar" = "determinó empezar"
Btw, not "ya determinó", but "y determinó". :thinking:

(16) :banghead::banghead::banghead:
-- Well, English doesn't always respect the strict rule about keeping adjectives/adverbs before the noun/verb.
So again, that's what you write exercises for. ;)


(17) Why no "a" in either of these two places?
-- Aha! We've also been through this before. :wicked:
"Decidir" doesn't use preposition "a".
And neither does "determinar".


Poli beat me to do this, but more points of view won't harm. :)

This baffles me - could you explain? Or just tell me to shut up because it's off-topic. :D

No - don't tell him to "shut up", because I am also interested in the answer to that same question.

I am in the middle of several things right now, but will be back later today to spend some time going through the WONDERFUL answers that you two have given! Thanks, Poli & Malila!!

Another point of view for you. :)

Can I argue in my defence that I was tired last night? :D


@Perikles: Ambarina understands me. :D
I must admit I'm wrong about the adjective thing, but my old teachers always made me change the place of adverbs only to find that they are not always put before the verb. (I may still not place them always at the right place, but I keep trying). http://forums.tomisimo.org/picture.p...&pictureid=587


Right! And there is also "decidirse a hacer algo".

Perikles may have problems getting on line tonight. There were huge storms today (almost tropical by the looks of them on the news) and there have been major power cuts on the islands.
The Canary Islands have had some bad storms this winter.
Hope everything's OK. :rose:

I've read that Tenerife has had a power cut. :sad:

Oh all right. :rolleyes:
That's fine - I spent some time searching for rogue adjectives, thinking I was missing something. As for adverbs, you can place them everywhere, usually correctly :rolleyes:, unless they split an infinitive .... (cue for long discussion).

Thanks for the concern, most of the island has been without electricity today, and our village must be one of the last ones to be restored, about half an hour ago. It is incredible that the internet actually works, with the fragile infrastructure here.

We can see a long stretch of coast, about 6 kms away, from our height of 900 metres altitude, and can see the devastation with lots of beaches ruined with all the sand washed into the sea. Very unusual storms.

Power outage, por lo menos en los EEUU :)

But Irma speaks correct BrE, and who can blame her? :rolleyes::D:)

no estaba seguro de eso porque lo dije que es inglés estaunidense
:D

Am I detecting some schadenfreude here?;) I too pity all those Canarian
snowbirds faced with temporales.:rolleyes:

Poli, Malila, Ambarina - THANK YOU so much for all of the helpful answers, suggestions, explanations!! These translation exercises have been such a great learning experience. And I learn even more because I have such a wonderful group of whom to ask questions! THANK YOU!!!! :rose::rose::rose:

I don't speak correct BrE, but I would like to. :thinking:

But thanks and I'm glad to see you here again. :) :rose:

Now, now Poli. Aren't you being a tad twisted?:wicked:

Had to look up "schadenfreude" BTW. New word for me.

It could be better here, but no matter how bad it is it's always better than the UK. :)

I'm not sure whether Schadenfreude, as a German noun, should have an uppercase S.

[QUOTE=Perikles;73032]It could be better here, but no matter how bad it is it's always better than the UK. :)

I'm not sure whether Schadenfreude, as a German noun, should have an uppercase S,but as an English word wouldn't it lose is upper case and italicised status? .[/QUOTE]
I just think it's a funny if nasty term that would take several words to translate in Spanish or English, and for that reason you see it in written English now and then.
I know UK is always dissed for it's weather especially by British people, but it's rarely unbearably hot in the summer I've been told, and less cold and more tolorable than where I live in the winter. I was in London a few years ago in February and cherry trees were in bloom (in secluded gardens that is)were in bloom even though it did seem dark and the days were short.

Schadenfreude is an excellent word. Thinking about it, if it italicised, this indicates it is not an English word, so retains the S. If in normal script, it has been assimilated into English, and loses the S. :) So it's Schadenfreude or schadenfreude. :)

As for the weather, the UK can have very mild winters. This one, though, is particularly cold and miserable.

(The BrE English word for a snowbird is a Swallow [golondrina, no trago].)