Ejercicio 22-3

[laepelba]

This is another translation exercise. I only have a few (probably basic) questions:

4) English sentence: Well, I dream a lot.
My translation: Pues, sueño mucho.
The book's answer: Bueno, sueño mucho.
My question: Are both answers equally acceptable?

8) English sentence: Later, I am going to take two aspirins.
My translation: Después, voy a tomar dos aspirinas.
The book's answer: Luego, voy a tomar dos aspirinas.
My question: Again, are both answers equally acceptable?

10) English sentence: Then I will continue to talk about my personality.
My translation: Entonces continuaré hablar de mi personalidad.
The book's answer: Entonces continuaré hablando de mi personalidad.
My question: Um, why the gerundio?

Thank you!!

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by laepelba

This is another translation exercise. I only have a few (probably basic) questions:

4) English sentence: Well, I dream a lot.
My translation: Pues, sueño mucho.
The book's answer: Bueno, sueño mucho.
My question: Are both answers equally acceptable?

8) English sentence: Later, I am going to take two aspirins.
My translation: Después, voy a tomar dos aspirinas.
The book's answer: Luego, voy a tomar dos aspirinas.
My question: Again, are both answers equally acceptable?

10) English sentence: Then I will continue to talk about my personality.
My translation: Entonces continuaré hablar de mi personalidad.
The book's answer: Entonces continuaré hablando de mi personalidad.
My question: Um, why the gerundio?

Thank you!!

4) It depends on the context. On the lack of it the literal translation -the book's- may be better.

8) Más tarde voy a tomar dos aspirinas.

As a standalone sentence I find this more logical. Is there any context provided?

10) perífrasis verbal ---> continuar + gerundio

You are saying "then I continue talking about ...." instead of "I continue to talk"

Unemployment continue to grow = el desempleo continúa creciendo

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

4) It depends on the context. On the lack of it the literal translation -the book's- may be better.

8) Más tarde voy a tomar dos aspirinas.

As a standalone sentence I find this more logical. Is there any context provided?

No, no context provided for any of these sentences. There were 10 independent sentences to be translated.

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

10) perífrasis verbal ---> continuar + gerundio

You are saying "then I continue talking about ...." instead of "I continue to talk"

Unemployment continue to grow = el desempleo continúa creciendo

First of all, what is "perífrasis verbal"?

And isn't that the point? Isn't that the difference?
- "I continue to talk" = "continuo hablar"
- "I continue talking" = "continuo hablando"
????

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by laepelba

First of all, what is "perífrasis verbal"?

A construction that works like a sort of multi-part verb. For instance:

ir + a + infinitive ---> voy a comer

Originally Posted by laepelba

And isn't that the point? Isn't that the difference?
- "I continue to talk" = "continuo hablar"
- "I continue talking" = "continuo hablando"
????

I found yet another blind spot in my knowledge of English grammar.

I continue to talk = continúo hablando (sigo con el acto de hablar)
I continue talking = continúo hablando (continúo con la conversación)

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

I continue to talk = continúo hablando (sigo con el acto de hablar)
I continue talking = continúo hablando (continúo con la conversación)

Okay - I'll take your word for it ... since the Spanish is the same for both cases. But the parenthetical explanations seem to mean exactly the same thing to me. Remember that in Spanish you can express nuances and different things in different ways ... whereas the same distinctions don't exist in English. I am learning that there are many things that can be said in Spanish and cannot be expressed in any way in English. I like that!

[aleCcowaN]

But in this case, I'm not sure as I'm trying to understand the difference, it's English the one having more options.

It looks now to me that in English you can say "I continue to X" meaning the act of X -a verb- and "I continue X-ing" meaning the result of the act of X -a noun-. Please, confirm if I'm right or going astray again.

In Spanish "continúo hablar" is "agramatical" -it makes no sense at all and it can't be fixed or amended as the parsing process skids and crashes-

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

But in this case, I'm not sure as I'm trying to understand the difference, it's English the one having more options.

It looks now to me that in English you can say "I continue to X" meaning the act of X -a verb- and "I continue X-ing" meaning the result of the act of X -a noun-. Please, confirm if I'm right or going astray again.

In Spanish "continúo hablar" is "agramatical" -it makes no sense at all and it can't be fixed or amended as the parsing process skids and crashes-

Well, to me, "continue talking" and "continue to talk" mean exactly the same thing. The only slight (SLIGHT!) difference might be that "continue talking" sounds slightly more casual. But I can't really think of any instance where the two would mean anything much different....

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Well, to me, "continue talking" and "continue to talk" mean exactly the same thing. ....

To me as well. Is there any detectable difference in meaning between

continúo hablando (sigo con el acto de hablar)
continúo hablando (continúo con la conversación)

??

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Perikles

To me as well. Is there any detectable difference in meaning between

continúo hablando (sigo con el acto de hablar)
continúo hablando (continúo con la conversación)

??

No, there can be only different by their contexts. I was trying to make sense of that talking/to talk duality.

I was taught that I should say "it continues to grow" and not "it continues growing" as my Spanish reflexes would tell me. I now find in mainstream Google 906 instances of "continues growing" and 643 instances for "continues to grow", but 437/480 when books.google is asked. Anyway I wonder why they told me that.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

I was taught that I should say "it continues to grow" and not "it continues growing" as my Spanish reflexes would tell me. I now find in mainstream Google 906 instances of "continues growing" and 643 instances for "continues to grow", but 437/480 when books.google is asked. Anyway I wonder why they told me that.

I don't think Google is a good source. The BNC gives:

contines to grow: 50
continued to grow: 97
continues growing: 0
continued growing: 0

continued talking: 13
continued to talk: 12

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Perikles

I don't think Google is a good source. The BNC gives:

contines to grow: 50
continued to grow: 97
continues growing: 0
continued growing: 0

continued talking: 13
continued to talk: 12

Thank you, that's very helpful. I still find difficult to accept that both ways mean are interchangeable.

"continued to talk about" BNC 2 / Google plain 529 (147 site:uk) / Google books 521
"continued talking about" 0 / 490 (62 site: uk) / 524

[Perikles]

By the way, the issue may be made complicated by to carry on.... the alternative to continue .... This more colloquial expression always takes the participle:

he carried on talking

[laepelba]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

No, there can be only different by their contexts. I was trying to make sense of that talking/to talk duality.

I was taught that I should say "it continues to grow" and not "it continues growing" as my Spanish reflexes would tell me. I now find in mainstream Google 906 instances of "continues growing" and 643 instances for "continues to grow", but 437/480 when books.google is asked. Anyway I wonder why they told me that.

My gut tells me that "continues growing" feels a little more casual, or a bit more used in speech than in writing. "Continues to grow" sounds/feels more correct, or better for writing.... ??

Originally Posted by Perikles

By the way, the issue may be made complicated by to carry on.... the alternative to continue .... This more colloquial expression always takes the participle:

he carried on talking

I would never say "carried on" talking. The only time I use "carry on" is when someone is making a fuss about something ... "that kid is carrying on about that test for which she didn't study...." Another BrE thing?

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I would never say "carried on" talking. The only time I use "carry on" is when someone is making a fuss about something ... "that kid is carrying on about that test for which she didn't study...." Another BrE thing?

Interesting. For me it sounds more common than 'continue'

Everybody was yawning theirs heads off, but she still carried on talking.

(somehow she sounds more natural )

[aleCcowaN]

Great! Thank you pals!

What about "go on"?

Is what follows correct?

carry on doing something = seguir haciendo algo
carry on to do something = continuar para hacer algo

It looks to me that all the structures having "on to" use "to" to set a purpose
or a destination.

"He went on to allege that the Liberal Democrats had received 15 times as much in donations, but refrained from naming names." (source: The Indendent) --> ¿continuó alegando/afirmando? (key: ya estaba alegando/afirmando eso mismo desde antes) or "fue más allá para alegar/afirmar que los demócratas-liberales habían recibido 15 veces más donaciones, aunque se cuidó de (no) dar nombres" (key:this adds or makes worse previous allegations)

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

carry on doing something = seguir haciendo algo
carry on to do something = continuar para hacer algo (I've never heard this construction)

It looks to me that all the structures having "on to" use "to" to set a purpose
or a destination.

"He went on to allege that the Liberal Democrats had received 15 times as much in donations, but refrained from naming names."

¿continuó alegando/afirmando?

No, I don't think that translation is correct. It does not mean that he still claimed that the Lib Dems....which is I think what continuó alegando means.

The context must be that HE is arguing something, and makes points A, B and C which are reported. The next point D is that he then alleges that the Lib Dems ...

In other words, it is a further point in an argument, not a repetition of a claim.

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Perikles

No, I don't think that translation is correct. It does not mean that he still claimed that the Lib Dems....which is I think what continuó alegando means.

The context must be that HE is arguing something, and makes points A, B and C which are reported. The next point D is that he then alleges that the Lib Dems ...

In other words, it is a further point in an argument, not a repetition of a claim.

Oh! Thank you! Then it is sort of "he moved to the next point and alleged..."- Yes, continuó alegando means he added more elements to the previous claim or he insisted on it. My second option -which I would have chosen in the lack of any other information- is that "he went on to allege" is like a new turn of the screw, like going farther, "fue más alla para alegar" or "incluso llegó a afirmar". I don't know why but I see there "went on" not as "continued" but more like going daringly into harsh territories.

I'm asking this because I find very confusing this xx-ing/to xx thing following verbs that mean continuous action or chained events. I find English grammar deceptively easy and the language making intense use of semantical means, so the first is compensated by a rich and precise lexicon. I'm trying to find out whether the meaning of the verb that follows continue, carry on o go on may influence the choice of xx-ing/to xx or there is some grammatical aspect that has not been explicated yet.

[Perikles]

He went on to allege that the Liberal ....

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

Then it is sort of "he moved to the next point and alleged... My second option -which I would have chosen in the lack of any other information- is that "he went on to allege" is like a new turn of the screw, like going farther, "fue más alla para alegar" or "incluso llegó a afirmar".

Exactly

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

I'm asking this because I find very confusing this xx-ing/to xx thing following verbs that mean continuous action or chained events. I find English grammar deceptively easy and the language making intense use of semantical means, so the first is compensated by a rich and precise lexicon. I'm trying to find out whether the meaning of the verb that follows continue, carry on o go on may influence the choice of xx-ing/to xx or there is some grammatical aspect that has not been explicated yet.

I'm no expert, so I can't cite any known rule here other than what sounds right to me. But it does sound as if the present participle does indicate repetition, whereas the infinitive can indicate repetition but also chained events, depending on the verb used with it:

He carried on criticising the opposition party (repeated)
He continued to critise the opposition party (repeated)

He went on to criticise the opposition party (new link in chain)
He proceeded to criticise the opposition party (new link in chain)

[aleCcowaN]

Originally Posted by Perikles

He carried on criticising the opposition party (repeated)
He continued to critise the opposition party (repeated)

He went on to criticise the opposition party (new link in chain)
He proceeded to criticise the opposition party (new link in chain)

Thank you a lot for the insight from the real language. It looks now to me that it pretty much depends on lexical aspects -as it seems to be the strategy of English: a simple grammar that sketches the speech and a rich and precise vocabulary which gives all the definition, nuances and "emboss" to the language-. This may be the reverse of the medal as I use to ask Spanish students to cease speculating about the exact "intention" of every word in matters of subjunctive and other Spanish niceties and embrace the grammar.

[CrOtALiTo]

Originally Posted by aleCcowaN

Thank you a lot for the insight from the real language. It looks now to me that it pretty much depends on lexical aspects -as it seems to be the strategy of English: a simple grammar that sketches the speech and a rich and precise vocabulary which gives all the definition, nuances and "emboss" to the language-. This may be the reverse of the medal as I use to ask Spanish students to cease speculating about the exact "intention" of every word in matters of subjunctive and other Spanish niceties and embrace the grammar.

Yes you're right with respect to the speech gave in the lexical aspect, in fact something is a fact when you are learning the language is important to takes the major lexical pronunciation in the same.


I'm agree with you.
Totally agree with all.