Translation exercise 20-12

[laepelba]

I won't type out the entire translation. I understand the grand majority of the mistakes I made. I just have four quick (I hope) questions....

1) English sentence: The three rooms are on the ground floor, which is convenient.
My translation: Las tres salas están en el piso bajo, lo cual está cómodo.
The book's answer: Las tres salas están en el piso bajo, lo cual es muy cómodo.
My question: Although I know and tend to understand the basics of ser/estar, I still get stuck sometimes. I do not understand how this is "ser". Honestly.....

2) English sentence: On this list, you can see the names of our administrators, whom you can call at any time.
My translation: En esta lista, Ud. puede ver los nombres de nuestros administradores, quienes Ud. puede llamar en cualquier momento.
The book's answer: En esta lista, Ud. puede ver los nombres de nuestros administradores, a quienes Ud. puede llamar en cualquier momento.
My question: Why the personal "a" there?

3) English sentence: There is a view of the lake.
My translation: Hay una vista del lago.
The book's answer: Hay una vista al lago.
My question: Why "a" and not "de"?

4) English sentence: If you need me, call the extension that is on my card.
My translation: Si me necesita, llame la extensión que es en mi tarjeta.
The book's answer: Si me necesita, llame a la extensión que está en mi tarjeta.
My questions: Again, why is the "a" there? And, again, why "estar" and not "ser"? Interesting, because in my first example above, I went with the idea of permanent condition (ser) vs. temporary (estar) and got it wrong (convenience is something that could change in a moment....), and in this example again (the number is permanently and forever on the card....). And I got both wrong. Ugh............

Thank you!!

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

The book's answer: Las tres salas están en el piso bajo, lo cual es muy cómodo.
The book's answer: Si me necesita, llame a la extensión que está en mi tarjeta.
!!

I'll have a bash at these two:

ser is used when the subject noun denotes an abstract idea:
Tus ideas son muy extrañas
I think the idea that 'this is very convenient' falls into this category.

estar deries from the Latin stare to stand, to be situated. I think this meaning is always carried through in Spanish, so if something is situated somewhere, estar is used. This applies to a name situated on a card.

[laepelba]

Seriously? Situated like print on a page? Amazing. I thought about estar/location was about physical places..... (sigh.....)

Thanks, Perikles! Do you see that the majority of my questions are still about prepositions? They're going to be the death of me..........

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Originally Posted by laepelba

I won't type out the entire translation. I understand the grand majority of the mistakes I made. I just have four quick (I hope) questions....

1) English sentence: The three rooms are on the ground floor, which is convenient.
My translation: Las tres salas están en el piso bajo, lo cual está cómodo.
The book's answer: Las tres salas están en el piso bajo, lo cual es muy cómodo.
My question: Although I know and tend to understand the basics of ser/estar, I still get stuck sometimes. I do not understand how this is "ser". Honestly..... The situation of the rooms is one thing, but the fact that all three rooms are placed there is always comfortable.

2) English sentence: On this list, you can see the names of our administrators, whom you can call at any time.
My translation: En esta lista, Ud. puede ver los nombres de nuestros administradores, quienes Ud. puede llamar en cualquier momento.
The book's answer: En esta lista, Ud. puede ver los nombres de nuestros administradores, a quienes Ud. puede llamar en cualquier momento.
My question: Why the personal "a" there? Why?! Because they're people!

3) English sentence: There is a view of the lake.
My translation: Hay una vista del lago.
The book's answer: Hay una vista al lago.
My question: Why "a" and not "de"? Without any other context, "vista del lago" might be fine, as it could be a view from anywhere around the lake. But this one seems to be as if one is watching the lake from a house or a hotel, this works as if one means the view from that place toward the lake.


4) English sentence: If you need me, call the extension that is on my card.
My translation: Si me necesita, llame la extensión que es en mi tarjeta.
The book's answer: Si me necesita, llame a la extensión que está en mi tarjeta.
My questions: Again, why is the "a" there? And, again, why "estar" and not "ser"? Interesting, because in my first example above, I went with the idea of permanent condition (ser) vs. temporary (estar) and got it wrong (convenience is something that could change in a moment....), and in this example again (the number is permanently and forever on the card....). And I got both wrong. Ugh............ "Llamar la extensión" is to give a name to it. "Está en mi tarjeta" is because it's about the place where it stays.

Thank you!!

Comments above

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Seriously? Situated like print on a page? Amazing. I thought about estar/location was about physical places..... (sigh.....).

Yes, it is. I think that if the English makes sense when you replace is with stands, is situated, then estar is used. It is all the same L. verb stare, with the -st- root showing up in words connected with being in a particular location: establish, stand, station, stable, static, nest ....

Edit: it is a problem for the English speaker used to the verb to be as a catch-all verb with several meanings. Other languages avoid this - for example if a name is one a visiting card, German would use 'the name finds itself on the card' (sich befinden)

[laepelba]

Thanks, Malila. Prepositions are difficult. I always forget that "de" and "a" in Spanish have a directionality that are lacking from English's "of" and "to".

And, Perikles - that makes sense, too. Thanks! I have another etymological question for you ... I'll post it later when I have a little time....