Ojalá

[irmamar]

¿Cómo traduciríais "ojalá" en una frase como:

Ojalá le hubieras dicho algo.

I wish/hope you should have told him something.

?

Thanks.

[pjt33]

If only.

If only you'd* said something to him.

* you had

[irmamar]

OK, thanks.

[ROBINDESBOIS]

I wish is fine too.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by ROBINDESBOIS

I wish is fine too.

Thanks, Robin

But I was told (here) that "wish" is used when there's no possibility. What about if there is a possibility? For instance:

Ojalá llegues a tiempo.
I wish you arrive in time.

There are two alternatives, you can arrive in time or you can arrive late.

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by irmamar

But I was told (here) that "wish" is used when there's no possibility. What about if there is a possibility? For instance:

Ojalá llegues a tiempo.
I wish you arrive in time.

But you can't say that.
I hope that you arrive in time.
I pray that you arrive in time
May you arrive in time
Please God let it be that you arrive in time

I just wish for once that you would arrive in time (you idiot)
.
.
.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

But you can't say that.
I hope that you arrive in time.
I pray that you arrive in time
May you arrive in time
Please God let it be that you arrive in time

I just wish for once that you would arrive in time (you idiot)
.
.
.

Don't you like "May you arrive in time"?

So, if there is a possibility, I must use "hope", but I can say "wish" if there's no possibility. Am I right?

I guess you can omit that "that" and say "I hope you arrive...". Do you prefer to use "that"?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Don't you like "May you arrive in time"?

No.

So, if there is a possibility, I must use "hope", but I can say "wish" if there's no possibility. Am I right?

No. An example taken from the BNC:

"I just wish the old cow would hurry up and die."

Here it expresses frustration rather than impossibility.

I can't write more now, but I will try to think about this and come back later.

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by pjt33

No.

Why?

[bobjenkins]

La explicación he aprendido es así

Ojalá - más fuerte que "esperar"

No espero tener que hacerlo - I hope I don´t have to do it (the wash, algo con menos esfuerza)
No ojalá tener que hacerlo - I pray I don´t have to do it (kill someone today, algo muy difícil)
------
Wish or hope

Yo entiendo así,
"wish" es más o menos usado cuando es menos posible que algo ocurrirá
"hope" es usado cuando quizás puede ocurrir

I wish I could win the lottery today
I hope I win atleast 20 dollars at the casino

Pero no consideres esas reglas como no se pueden cambiar
Don´t consider these rules to be exact, but they are a good guideline

[poli]

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

La explicación he aprendido es así

Ojalá - más fuerte que "esperar"

No espero tener que hacerlo - I hope I don´t have to do it (the wash, algo con menos esfuerza)
No ojalá tener que hacerlo - I pray I don´t have to do it (kill someone today, algo muy difícil)
------
Wish or hope

Yo entiendo así,
"wish" es más o menos usado cuando es menos posible que algo ocurrirá
"hope" es usado cuando quizás puede ocurrir

I wish I could win the lottery today
I hope I win atleast 20 dollars at the casino

Pero no consideres esas reglas como no se pueden cambiar
Don´t consider these rules to be exact, but they are a good guideline

No ojalá can't be used
You can say ojalá que no.

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by poli

No ojalá can't be used
You can say ojalá que no.

Muchas gracias poli!

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

@Bob: I don't think the difference is that dramatic. "Ojalá" expresses an intense wish, but it can be used as a synonym of "espero que", "deseo que", "me gustaría que", "quiero que"...

Ojalá pongan Avatar en un cine cercano. = Espero que pongan Avatar en un cine cercano. - I hope they'll show Avatar in a nearby theatre.

Ojalá que la clase termine pronto, porque estoy muy aburrida. = Quiero que la clase termine pronto, porque estoy muy aburrida. - I hope the class will end soon, because I'm so bored.

Ojalá que venga mi papá para navidad. = Me gustaría que mi papá viniera para navidad. - I hope my dad would come for Christmas.



Please note:

Originally Posted by bobjenkins

No espero tener que hacerlo - I don't expect I'll have to do it.

Espero no tener que hacerlo - I hope I don´t have to do it (the wash, algo con menos esfuerza)

No ojalá tener que hacerlo Ojalá no tenga que hacerlo. - I pray I don´t have to do it (kill someone today, algo muy difícil)
"Ojalá" is not a verb, so you can't use it that way.

[bobjenkins]

Originally Posted by AngelicaDeAlquezar

@Bob: I don't think the difference is that dramatic. "Ojalá" expresses an intense wish, but it can be used as a synonym of "espero que", "deseo que", "me gustaría que", "quiero que"...

Ojalá pongan Avatar en un cine cercano. = Espero que pongan Avatar en un cine cercano. - I hope they'll show Avatar in a nearby theatre.

Ojalá que la clase termine pronto, porque estoy muy aburrida. = Quiero que la clase termine pronto, porque estoy muy aburrida. - I hope the class will end soon, because I'm so bored.

Ojalá que venga mi papá para navidad. = Me gustaría que mi papá viniera para navidad. - I hope my dad would come for Christmas.



Please note:

Gracias por la ayuda!

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Why?

Suena raro. No estoy seguro por qué, pero tengo alguna idea que "May you X" es lenguaje bastante formal para bendecir o maldecir.

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

Es lenguaje de Yoda... "may the force be with you."

[Perikles]

Originally Posted by Perikles

May you arrive in time
.

Originally Posted by irmamar

Don't you like "May you arrive in time"?

As pjt says, the expression sounds odd, although grammatically correct. You would not use it in ordinary speech, but you could use it in an ironic/silly mode, such as a curse:

May all your Chrismas(s?)es be White. (note the subjunctive, which is actually a hortative optative, in case @Chileno is interested )
May you live in peace.
May the fleas of a thousand camels infest your armpits!

[irmamar]

Originally Posted by Perikles

May all your Chrismas(s?)es be White.

Is "Chrismas" a typo? Why that "es"?

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by irmamar

Is "Chrismas" a typo? Why that "es"?

Yes. Plural. But Perikles isn't sure whether Christmases or Christmasses. (FWIW Firefox spell-checker says the former).

[irmamar]

OK. Thanks.