Sorolla: from Spain to USA, back in Spain and soon in USA again.

[irmamar]

Yesterday we went to Barcelona because we wanted to see an exhibition that the Spanish painter, Sorolla, made for the New York Hispanic Society of America. This institution has lent the pictures temporarily and they've been exhibited in a few Spanish cities. The fact is that we enjoyed a lot, since Sorolla gets, skilfully, not only the movement but also, especially, the sunlight reflect.


The worst is that, because of the underground/tube air draught, I'm with a strong neckache and I can do nothing.


Those who live in New York or near, don't stop going to see these paintings. Well, don't go now because they're not there still(though there are a lot of another Spanish artists paintings worth seeing).



Y ahora lo traduzco para que practiquéis un poco:



Ayer fuimos a Barcelona porque queríamos ver una exposición que el pintor español Sorolla pintó para la Hispanic Society of America de Nueva York. Esta institución ha prestado los cuadros temporalmente y se han expuesto en algunas ciudades españolas. La verdad es que disfrutamos mucho, ya que Sorolla capta con gran habilidad no sólo el movimiento sino, especialmente, el reflejo de la luz del sol.


Lo peor de todo fue que, por culpa de las corrientes de aire del metro, estoy con un fuerte dolor de cuello y no puedo hacer nada.


Los que viváis en Nueva York o cerca, no dejéis de ir a ver estos cuadros. Bueno, ahora no vayáis, porque no están allí todavía (aunque hay otros muchas pinturas de autores españoles dignas de verse).

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Yesterday we went to Barcelona because we wanted to see an exhibition that the Spanish painter Sorolla painted for the New York Hispanic Society of America. This institution has temporarily lent the pictures out and they've been exhibited in a few Spanish cities. We really enjoyed it a lot, since Sorolla very skillfully captures not only the motion/action but the reflection of the sunlight.

Unfortunately, because of the drafts in the subway, I have a strong neckache and I can't do anything.

Those who live in or near New York, don't stop going to see these paintings. Well, don't go now because they're not back yet (though there are a lot of other Spanish artists' paintings worth seeing).

The changes above mostly add fluidity and American English spellings/words have been substituted.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

The changes above mostly add fluidity and American English spellings/words have been substituted.

Thanks, but I don't understand what you said. I study British English.

[irmamar]

And please, another question: is it not the same "I can do nothing" and "I can't do anything"? Thanks.

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by irmamar

And please, another question: is it not the same "I can do nothing" and "I can't do anything"? Thanks.

Son iguales en significado, pero "I can do nothing" es mucho menos común que "I can't do anything".

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

Son iguales en significado, pero "I can do nothing" es mucho menos común que "I can't do anything".

Is it the same both in British English and American English or just in American English? Thanks.

[Rusty]

I believe they'd be the same on both sides of the Atlantic.

Otherwise identical in meaning, the reason I suggested the other phrase was for fluidity. It sounded more natural to use "I can't do anything."

In some instances, there is a difference between the phrases. If you were presented a choice of tasks to perform, for example, you could say "I can do nothing" and mean that you will not perform any of the tasks laid before you. If you respond "I can't do anything" to the same invitation, that would mean you are unable to perform any of the tasks.

[poli]

Originally Posted by Tomisimo

Son iguales en significado, pero "I can do nothing" es mucho menos común que "I can't do anything".

Like David and Rusty said, they mean very much the same. Sometimes, just to vary speech, we say things diffferently. Por ejemplo: no hay nada que puedo hacer/ no puedo hacer nada.

Sé que existe este museo ubicado en alto Manhattan, pero vergüenzamente nunca lo visité. Leí que hay una pintura famosa de Goya y uno de Velazquez tambien. No sabía que tenían obra (s) de Sorrolla. El museo está en un sitio un poquito remoto. Creo que paca gente lo conoce.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by poli

Like David and Rusty said, they mean very much the same. Sometimes, just to vary speech, we say things diffferently. Por ejemplo: no hay nada que puedo hacer/ no puedo hacer nada.

Sé que existe este museo ubicado en lo alto de Manhattan, pero vergonzosamente nunca lo visité. Leí que hay una pintura famosa de Goya y una de Velázquez también. No sabía que tenían obras de Sorrolla. El museo está en un sitio un poquito remoto. Creo que poca gente lo conoce.

No sé, creo que tienen más de una sola obra de Goya y Velázquez.

Rusty, would you mind to translate to me "a choice of tasks to perform". I translate it into: "una elección de tareas que desempeñar", and it doesn't make much sense for me. Thanks.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Rusty, would you mind translating "a choice of tasks to perform" for me? I translate it as: "una elección de tareas que desempeñar", and it doesn't make much sense for me. Thanks.

Una elección/selección de cosas/tareas que hacer.

[irmamar]

Thanks! I'd like to speak English as well as you speak Spanish!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Thanks! I'd like to speak English as well as you speak Spanish!

You're welcome! ¡Que logremos juntos nuestros mayores deseos!

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

You're welcome! ¡Que logremos juntos nuestros mayores deseos!

I hope!! But sometimes I think that I've arrived to a point thant I can't go on, I always do the same mistakes and I believe I don't learn new vocabulary. Maybe a lot of students think the same...

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I hope!! But sometimes I think that I've arrived at a point where I can't go on, I always make the same mistakes and I believe I don't learn new vocabulary. Maybe a lot of students think the same...

All of us students struggle with the same perception. In reality, every time we use the language we are improving ourselves, even if we fall back on comfortable, worn-out phrases we've used time and time again. Who knows? Perhaps one of our worn-out phrases is something someone else has never heard before. All of a sudden, we become the teacher instead of the student.

[irmamar]

I've just opened a new document and I'm going to copy and paste there all the corrections made to my writings. Later I'll study them, maybe I learn something so.

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I've just opened a new document and I'm going to copy and paste there all the corrections made to my writings. Later I'll study them, maybe I'll learn something that way.

Brilliant! (as the British would say) - ¡Genial!
Americans would say, "Great idea!"

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Rusty

Brilliant! (as the British would say) - ¡Genial!
Americans would say, "Great idea!"

Pero tengo que decirte que me das miedo... You make me trembling with fear!!

But... Why "that way"? Isn't "so" correct? "So" es "así"

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Pero tengo que decirte que me das miedo... You make me tremble with fear!! Why?

But... Why "that way"? Isn't "so" correct? "So" es "así"

I can't give you a rule. The reason is, it just doesn't sound right. There are times when 'so' will work just as you thought, but not in that sentence.

Do it so.
Do it that way.
Do it this way.
= Hazlo así.

Don't carry on so.
Don't carry on that way.
Don't carry on this way.
= No te pongas así.

Maybe I'll learn something so.
Maybe I'll learn something that way.
= Quizá aprenderé algo así.

[irmamar]

I imagine you as Speedy González, running up and down in the forum with a red pen in your hand, looking for the other's mistakes...

(Now, I'm sure I've done some mistake, but I can't find it. Well, soon Speedy Rusty will come with his red pen)

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by irmamar

I imagine you as Speedy González, running up and down in the forum with a red pen in your hand, looking for the other's mistakes...

(Now, I'm sure I've made a mistake, but I can't find it. Well, soon Speedy Rusty will come with his red pen)

I have a purple pen, too.

I'm sorry if I've offended you (or anyone else) by making corrections. I only correct, in fact, when I feel it is appreciated and beneficial.