Ejercicio 23-16

[laepelba]

This was a fill-in-the-blanks para vs. por exercise. I got most of them right, but am not necessarily sure I understand the meaning of each sentence. Here are the ones that had me confused:

6) Para el viernes, ya podemos llamarlos a Tijuana.
My attempt at understanding: By Friday, we can already call them to Tijuana.

7) Van a pasar por la casa de unas amigas de Carmen.
My attempt at understanding: We are going to go through the house of some friends of Carmen.

Any help you can give me to understand these sentences would be greatly appreciated!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

6) Para el viernes, ya podemos llamarlos a Tijuana.
My attempt at understanding: By Friday, we can already call them to Tijuana.
It seems they won't be in Tijuana before Friday, so you can't call them until then.

7) Van a pasar por la casa de unas amigas de Carmen.
My attempt at understanding: We are going to go through the house of some friends of Carmen.
Unless "to go through" suggests passing by their place (otherwise, crossing their house doesn't make much sense).
They'll make a stop first where Carmen's friends live, and then they'll continue their way to where they are supposed to be going.

Comments above.

[laepelba]

Okay, so the way I wrote the English in each is completely wrong. Let me try again....

6) Para el viernes, ya podemos llamarlos a Tijuana.
By Friday, we will be able to call them in Tijuana.

7) Van a pasar por la casa de unas amigas de Carmen.
(On their way...) They are going to pass by the house of some of Carmen's friends.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I think second one is fine.

But I have trouble with no. 6: the person speaking is apparently talking about a long distance call, so I think the sentence should rather say "...call them to Tijuana". (Unless "...in Tijuana" gives the same idea: they won't be in Tijuana until Friday, so in the meantime, there is nothing we can do with that telephone number.)

[chileno]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Okay, so the way I wrote the English in each is completely wrong. Let me try again....

6) Para el viernes, ya podemos llamarlos a Tijuana.
By Friday, we will already be able to call them in/to Tijuana.

7) Van a pasar por la casa de unas amigas de Carmen.
(On their way...) They are going to pass by the house of some of Carmen's friends.

#6 depends of context and of where you are going to be when making that call. Right?

[ROBINDESBOIS]

Originally Posted by laepelba

This was a fill-in-the-blanks para vs. por exercise. I got most of them right, but am not necessarily sure I understand the meaning of each sentence. Here are the ones that had me confused:

6) Para el viernes, ya podemos llamarlos a Tijuana.
My attempt at understanding: By Friday, we can already call them to Tijuana.

7) Van a pasar por la casa de unas amigas de Carmen.
My attempt at understanding: We are going to go through the house of some friends of Carmen.

Any help you can give me to understand these sentences would be greatly appreciated!

7. I understand they are briefly visiting Carmen´s friends first

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

I think second one is fine.

But I have trouble with no. 6: the person speaking is apparently talking about a long distance call, so I think the sentence should rather say "...call them to Tijuana". (Unless "...in Tijuana" gives the same idea: they won't be in Tijuana until Friday, so in the meantime, there is nothing we can do with that telephone number.)

The only way that "call them to Tijuana" makes sense is if we are not talking about a telephone. The phrase "call them to Tijuana" means that they are not in Tijuana, and someone advises them that they need to go TO Tijuana. If my mother were to get ill, my brother would call me to Buffalo. So I'm still not sure what can happen on Friday with these folks and Tijuana.........

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Hmm... I see... "call them to Tijuana" means someone will be summoned. Thank you.

I had thought "call them in Tijuana" would mean we (the ones calling) would also be there to phone them.

[laepelba]

Prepositions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! They will be the death of me, too....

SOOoooo ... in essence, you are saying that these people are not in Tijuana yet, but on Friday they will be, and once they are, I can call them when they are there. ???

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Yep, that's what I said (or tried to).

Originally Posted by angelicadealquezar

they won't be in Tijuana until Friday, so in the meantime, there is nothing we can do with that telephone number

The telephone number is from Tijuana (sentence is talking about a long distance call); we are (let's say) in Washington, and these people seem to be on their way to Tijuana (from wherever they're travelling), so they won't answer that phone any time before Friday, when they're supposed to be there. We can call them then.

[laepelba]

Whew. Okay - now I do understand............