Ask a Question

(Create a thread)
Go Back   Spanish language learning forums > Spanish & English Languages > Translations
Register Help/FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Several different pronouns in one sentence

 

Translate a sentence or longer piece of text. For single words or idioms, use the vocabulary forum.


Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1
Old October 04, 2014, 11:34 AM
arnoldsg72 arnoldsg72 is offline
Opal
 
Join Date: Sep 2014
Posts: 28
arnoldsg72 is on a distinguished road
Several different pronouns in one sentence

Could you Please translate these sentences in english:

No te me vayas.
No te me los comas.
Que no se me los coma.
Reply With Quote
   
Get rid of these ads by registering for a free Tomísimo account.
  #2
Old October 04, 2014, 05:19 PM
AngelicaDeAlquezar's Avatar
AngelicaDeAlquezar AngelicaDeAlquezar is offline
Obsidiana
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Mexico City
Posts: 9,129
Native Language: Mexican Spanish
AngelicaDeAlquezar is on a distinguished road
There are several uses of pronominal verbs, and having three different pronouns in one sentence is not everyday language, but these seem to be examples of the rule for ordering pronouns in a sentence: First "se", then those of the second person ("te"), then first person ("me"), then third person ("los").

In your examples, "me" is only inserted to make an emphasis on the action of the other persons, as if it were affecting the speaker directly. It's as if the others were doing something on purpose to affect the speaker. Like when in the movies someone is dying and the other person says "don't die on me", almost saying "you're dying to make me feel sorry" or something similar.
As this kind of construction is only used in very colloquial language, the pronominal particle can be omitted.


For the examples with the verb "comer", "te" and "se" are used also for reasons of emphasis. When the verb "comer" is "comerse", it usually implies a notion of "gobbling up".
Both sentences convey the meaning of trying to avoid the others from gobbling up the food, either without my permission or eating all up with some intention of affecting me negatively by doing that.

Because of the special meaning of these particles, it's not possible to make a translation of the grammatical structure, but rather on the way the same idea would be expressed in English.

No te me vayas.
-> Similar to "don't you leave me".
The meaning is I don't want you to leave and if you do, I take it as an offense.

No te me los comas.
-> Similar to "for my sake don't eat them".
The idea is that I don't want you to eat those things and if you do, I'll be upset.

Que no se me los coma.
-> Something like "don't let them eat them for my sake".
The command or the wish expresses that the other person must not eat those things or I will be negatively affected by it.


Now you may probably find some more suitable expressions in English than those I proposed.
__________________
Ain't it wonderful to be alive when the Rock'n'Roll plays...
Reply With Quote
  #3
Old October 04, 2014, 05:30 PM
Rusty's Avatar
Rusty Rusty is online now
Señor Speedy
 
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: USA
Posts: 11,403
Native Language: American English
Rusty has a spectacular aura aboutRusty has a spectacular aura about
Those are terrific translations!
Reply With Quote
Reply

 

Link to this thread
URL: 
HTML Link: 
BB Code: 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Site Rules

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
When to use indirect pronouns and direct pronouns will00 Grammar 1 June 09, 2012 10:15 AM
Pronouns, but why? Jackson Grammar 11 February 25, 2009 05:30 PM
direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns Twitchy11 Grammar 3 September 29, 2007 11:37 AM
Lots of personal/object pronouns in same sentence pescamos Grammar 1 November 15, 2006 10:42 PM


All times are GMT -6. The time now is 08:16 PM.

Powered by vBulletin®
Copyright ©2000 - 2025, vBulletin Solutions Inc.

X