Would really appreciate some pointers on some really basic stuff...

[Amira]

Hi,

I just started taking a course in Spanish, along with my other courses (perhaps not the brightest idea ever, but what's done is done). The problem is, I haven't read one single bit of Spanish before - I could count to ten and that was about it. So I got this first assignment, in which I am to make a couple of questions or lines in a dialogue. I'm supposed to make the questions for some answers. So anyway, I was wondering if there was anyone who would be willing to take a look at what I've written so far. Since I don't (to my knowledge anyway) know anyone who speaks Spanish - at least not anyone that I would trust to get it right. Not looking for someone to complete my assignment, I just want to know if I'm on the right track (I don't trust online translators) and the only contact I have with my teacher is turning in my assignments which isn't really ideal for me I came to realise since I have no idea if I am learning it correctly or if I am doing myself a disfavour and learning what I think is right, but actually isn't.

So the conversation is between two people, one asking the other about some things in the vincinity. I've been trying to use the words that I've learnt during the first two chapters.
So the first one:

Hi. Excuse me, where is Zara?
¡Hola! Pérdon, ¿dónde está Zara?

...then I modified it cause it didn't sound right not to specify that it was a store.

¡Hola! Pérdon, ¿dónde está tienda Zara?

Or would it better to just write it "...está tiende de Zara?" or "...la tienda de Zara?" No need to answer that as a yes or no or the first is better than the second, but just some hint or pointer.

The second one felt a little bit easier, but I still have a nagging feeling that there's something horrendously wrong with it.

Thank you, is there a subway?
Gracias, ¿Hay un metro?

Wrote it like that since I wasn't supposed to (or that is my interpretation of it anyway) ask for a specific subway but just if there is one. The following ones would be:

Which line do I take to Atocha?
¿Qué línea tomar para Atocha?

Is it far to Atocha?
¿Está lejanos a Atocha?

What's the name of the statue next to us?
Cómo llama la estatua al lado de nos?

Yes, it's really nice. Thank you, good bye.
Sí, muy bonita. Gracias, adiós.


Well, as I said any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

~Amira

[Julvenzor]

Originally Posted by Amira

Hi. Excuse me, where is Zara?
¡Hola! Perdón, ¿dónde está Zara?

...then I modified it cause it didn't sound right not to specify that it was a store.

Don't worry. At least in Spain, everyone knows which Zara is. In fact, the owner is Spaniard.

¡Hola! Perdón, ¿dónde está tienda Zara?

Or would it better to just write it "...está tienda de Zara?" or "...la tienda de Zara?" No need to answer that as a yes or no or the first is better than the second, but just some hint or pointer.

The second one felt a little bit easier, but I still have a nagging feeling that there's something horrendously wrong with it.

Thank you, is there a subway?
Gracias, ¿hay un metro? Or just: ¿hay metro?

Wrote it like that since I wasn't supposed to (or that is my interpretation of it anyway) ask for a specific subway but just if there is one. The following ones would be:

Which line do I take to Atocha?
¿Qué línea tomar para Atocha? It's correct, but not a translation.
¿Qué/Cuál línea tomo para Atocha?

Is it far to Atocha?
¿Está lejano a Atocha? It's correct, but it sounds literary.
¿Está lejos de Atocha?

What's the name of the statue next to us?
¿Cómo se llama la estatua al lado de nos? It's correct, but "nos" in this function is from a century ago.
¿Cómo se llama la estatua junto a nosotros?
¿Cuál es el nombre de la estatua junto a nosotros?

Yes, it's really nice. Thank you, good bye.
Sí, muy bonita. Gracias, adiós. "Bonita" is "pretty" or "beautiful". "Nice" is translated into Spanish as "agradable".


Well, as I said any pointers would be greatly appreciated.

~Amira

Very good for starting. Keep that way.