LESSON VII
| Vale más una sola cosa buena que muchas medianas.[7] |
| —Pérez Galdós. |
(a) 1. We must not remain longer in this house. 2. I must go and I will go. But, where? Who knows? 3. If you want to know, ask her. 4. He is here again and he knows that we are in this house. 5. Man, you are right. You must be right sometimes. 6. I am not to blame because he is not here. 7. These are for me, but I will give you these for those. 8. You don't know what you are asking for. 9. He is hungry and cold, but not ashamed. 10. Send the maid to get some vegetables.
(b) 1. Do you know how old he is? 2. How deep is this well? 3. It is not his fault that he has not been successful. 4. Ask them if they are hungry? 5. Father has gone out for a lamp because all the electric lights have gone out. 6. We shall get there before long. 7. Have you ever been here before? Yes, but not for a long time. 8. Mother's going to get me a new hat. 9. This store always closes for an hour at noon. 10. It's a pity this young man does not get along better with his parents. 11. Before you go, go and ask John if he got the tickets for to-night.
LESSON VIII
| ¡Mira las estrellas! Cuentan cuentos dulces las estrellas y hacen compañía.[8]—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA. |
19. The verb to look or look at is rendered mirar, the at remaining untranslated.
Looking through the window, I saw that my friend was looking at the flowers.
Mirando por la ventana, vi que mi amiga miraba las flores.
(a) To look (as if) is rendered parecer. The impersonal it looks as if may be translated según parece, or por lo visto.
You look very tired. It looks as if you had been working too hard.
Parece Vd. muy cansada. Ha trabajado Vd. demasiado según parece.
It looks as if he had determined to stop our talking.
Parece que se ha propuesto impedirnos hablar.—LOS QUINTERO.
(b) To look for or look up is translated buscar.
I don't know where they went. For my part I'm not looking for them.
Yo no sé a donde iban. Por mi parte no los busco.—JOSÉ MÁRMOL.
20. English little as an adjective of size is rendered pequeño, chico, or menudo.
We have just rented that little house across the street.
Acabamos de alquilar esa casa pequeña al otro lado de la calle.
Are the little folks coming too?
¿Vienen también la gente menuda?
(a) Denoting quantity little is rendered poco.
Why, you went to bed a little after ten!
¡Si te acostaste a poco más de las diez!—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
It is a matter of little importance.
Es asunto de poca importancia.
(b) As an adverb of degree little is rendered poco, algo, or un tanto.
The price is a little high, isn't it? A little, yes.
Es algo subido el precio, ¿no? Un tanto, si.
21. English there as an adverb is translated ahí, allí, or allá, the last being the form used with verbs of motion. Used with a verb that doesn't express motion, allá indicates approximate situation while allí always indicates definite situation.
I wonder where my hat can be. I left it there on the table.
¿Dónde estará mi sombrero? Lo dejé allí en la mesa.
I don't know where he has gone, but he went over there.
No se adónde habrá ido, pero se fué por allá.
(a) There is, there was, there will be, etc., are translated by the various tenses of haber, the verb always being in the singular.
There is one here now. There were two before.
Hay uno aquí ahora. Antes había dos.
There are absurdities in the spiritual life as in the natural.
Hay absurdos en la vida del espíritu como en la naturaleza.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
(b) There as an exclamatory word has many renderings which can best be learned by observation. Note the following examples.
There, there, don't cry! You'll wake mother.
¡Vamos, vamos, no llores! Despertarás a la madre.
There! I told you you would break it.
¡Ya se ve! Te dije que ibas a quebrarlo.
There's a beautiful house!
¡Vaya una casa hermosa!
(a) 1. Dígale que yo voy allá en seguida. 2. ¡Vaya una muchacha guapa! ¿Quién es? 3. Parece que nunca van a terminar. 4. Habrá reunión allí mañana por la mañana. 5. Es muy chico. Me gustaría más si fuese un tantito más grande. 6. Parece que va a llover. Tal vez habrá tempestad. 7. Los chicos quieren ir a la playa, pero ya es un poco tarde para eso. 8. He perdido un guante. ¿Quieres volver a buscármelo? 9. ¡Mire Vd. cuánta gente hay en la calle! 10. Parece más joven, pero la verdad es que tiene algo más edad que yo.
(b) 1. Were you there when the accident occurred? 2. There were ten boys in the class. How many are there in your class? 3. Oh, look! There goes a deer. There's a pretty little animal! 4. We shall be there for an hour. We went there last year, too. 5. How does it look to you? I haven't looked at it well yet. 6. I need a little more milk. Who will go and get me some? 7. The little money that I had was not sufficient. 8. There had been a terrible storm and the little city had suffered not a little damage. 9. Look up these words in the dictionary. 10. Look out! (¡Cuidado!) There comes an automobile. There's a reckless driver (for you)!
LESSON IX
| Las frutas se comen. Las flores se huelen, nada más.[9] |
| —LOS QUINTERO. |
23. The verb to grow, meaning to cultivate or be cultivated, is translated cultivar or cultivarse; meaning to increase in size it is crecer or aumentarse; meaning to become it is rendered ponerse or hacerse, the first expressing temporary, the second approximately permanent, change. To grow up is translated criarse.
In the Argentine Republic they grow much wheat.
En la República Argentina cultivan (se cultiva) mucho trigo.
Why! How this child has grown!
¡Vaya, que ha crecido este niño!
The number grows year by year.
El número se aumenta de año en año.
She must be ill. She is growing thinner day by day.
Debe estar mala. Se pone más delgada de día en día.
By means of gymnastic exercises he has grown very strong.
Por medio de ejercicios gimnásticos se ha hecho muy fuerte.
This child grew up with her mother until she was five years old.
Esta niña se crió junto a su madre hasta tener cinco años.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
24. The word just has numerous renderings in Spanish. As an adjective it is justo.
Since our cause is just, we shall win.
Puesto que es justa nuestra causa, venceremos.
(a) Meaning only it may be translated by the adverb sólo, or by the phrases nada más or no ... más que (de before numerals). Nada más is placed at the end of the sentence.
There were just twenty persons present.
Asistieron sólo veinte personas (no más de veinte personas; veinte personas nada más).
How much do you want? I have just a pound.
¿Cuánto quiere usted? No tengo más que una libra.
Note.—If this sentence meant exactly a pound, the translation would be una libra justa; so always when just equals exactly.
We just came to look for a pencil and paper for Patros.
No venimos más que a buscar lápiz y papel para Patros.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
For you must know, my son, that the dreaming of the old is just remembering.
Porque has de saber, hijo mío, que el soñar de los viejos es sólo recordar.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
It was just the door closing.
Era la puerta que se cerraba, nada más.
(b) Meaning at this or that moment, just is translated en este or ese mismo momento; or it may be implied in the present or imperfect tenses.
| The door is just closing. | Se cierra la puerta. |
| The door was just closing. | Se cerraba la puerta. |
The phrase en este mismo momento makes the just more emphatic.
(c) In expressions of time of day just is rendered en punto; just now is hace poco or hace un ratito, referring to past time, ahora or al momento when present time is understood; just yet is rendered todavía.
What time is it? It is just eight o'clock.
¿Qué hora es? Son las ocho en punto.
I saw them just now and they said they were coming.
Los vi hace poco y dijeron que iban a venir.
I'm sorry I can't go with you, but I'm very busy just now.
Siento no poder acompañarle, pero al momento estoy muy ocupado.
It isn't ready just yet. I will call you as soon as it is.
No está listo todavía. Le llamaré en cuanto lo esté.
(d) Have just and had just with a past participle are translated by the present and imperfect of the verb acabar followed by de and the infinitive of the verb that in English is in the participle.
| He has just arrived. | He had just gone. |
| Acaba de llegar. | Acababa de marcharse. |
(a) 1. Hacemos este viaje sólo por placer. 2. El sol acababa de ponerse. 3. No podía soportar que su única hija se criase como un muchacho. 4. Hablábamos de la posibilidad de su llegada, nada más. 5. ¡Ya se ve! Crióse sin madre casi sin nodriza. 6. Esto ocurrió hace un año. No, hace tres meses justos. 7. Un momento nada más y sales diciéndoles que tienes que hacer en la casa. 8. El tabaco no se cultiva en este estado. 9. Estos niños crecen como la mala hierba. 10. Son las ocho en punto y dicen que acaban de llegar las distinguidas visitas.
(b) 1. I am just going. Do you want to go with me? 2. We grow just flowers in our garden. 3. What are you doing? I'm just reading. 4. They have just come in and they say it is just beginning to rain. 5. When we got there he had just begun to speak. 6. That is just what I was going to say. 7. It was growing darker and we could only just see. 8. This is just for the little girls. 9. How you have grown! The other day you were just a little boy. 10. He is growing weaker every day.
LESSON X
| En Dios confía quien adora la verdad.[10] |
| —PÉREZ GALDÓS. |
26. English after as a preposition of time is rendered después de; as a preposition of place or direction it is tras or en pos de; as a conjunction it is después que.
And so the boats kept on appearing one after the other.
Y así fueron apareciendo unas tras otras las lanchas.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
The boats were disappearing one after the other behind the cape.
Las lanchas se fueron ocultando una en pos de otra detrás del cabo.—PALACIO VALDÉS.
We will help you after dinner.
Le ayudaremos después de la comida.
After we have finished, we will go.
Después que hayamos acabado, nos iremos.
(a) Afterwards is después. The day after to-morrow is pasado mañana.
Afterwards I found out that he was earning his living as a public letter writer.
Después supe que ganaba la vida trabajando de memorialista.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
I have to see them the day after to-morrow.
Tengo que verlos pasado mañana.
27. The verb to help meaning to assist, aid, is rendered ayudar or asistir.
I have so much to do and nobody wants to help me.
Tengo tanto que hacer y nadie quiere ayudarme.
(a) To help in the sense of to prevent, avoid, is rendered evitar.
I couldn't help his doing it, but he couldn't help it either.
Yo no podía evitar que él lo hiciese, pero él no podía evitarlo tampoco.
(b) Can't help and couldn't help, followed by an unmodified present participle, are rendered by the present and the imperfect of the verb poder and the phrase menos de with the infinitive. Otherwise, I can't help, couldn't help, etc., may be rendered Yo no tengo (tenía) la culpa de que.
I can't help confessing that I am sorry.
No puedo menos de confesar que lo siento.—PALACIO VALDÉS.
I couldn't help knowing that you were talking of us.
No podía menos de saber que Vd. hablaba de nosotros.
Note.—When the verbal in -ing is modified by a possessive, translate as in (a).
(c) It can't be helped is translated no hay remedio.
I thought it could be avoided, but now it can't be helped.
Creí que podría evitarse, pero ya no hay remedio.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
(a) 1. Vaya a buscarla después de comer. 2. No querría hacerlo, pero no había otro remedio. 3. Quisiera dejarlo para después que oscurezca. 4. Después de acabar Vd. con ese libro démelo a mí. 5. La ayudaba, sí, pero no podía menos de creer que lo hacía sin querer. 6. No me gusta dejarlo hacer por manos ajenas, pero no hay remedio. 7. Después que habíamos caminado dos horas, los alcanzamos. 8. No puedo menos de querer que vengan. 9. Estaba todavía muy débil y teníamos que asistirle cuando querría andar. 10. Los niños llegan pasado mañana y los padres unos días después.
(b) 1. It isn't ready yet, but I can't help it. 2. Do you want me to help you? 3. I can't help feeling sorry that they have done that. 4. We knew that it couldn't be helped. 5. I have just seen him, and I can't help thinking that he must be ill. 6. She couldn't help hoping that she would get what she wanted. 7. After a short time he could walk without our help. 8. The dog ran after his master after he succeeded in getting out of the house. 9. After the rain had ceased they went out and we did not see them afterwards. 10. He knows it is not well done, but he says he can't help it.
LESSON XI
| Cuando uno no quiere, dos no riñen.[11] |
| —Tomayo y Baus. |
29. English here is rendered aquí denoting place where and acá with a verb of motion.
Here lived a member of my husband's family.
Aquí habitaba un individuo de la familia de mi esposo.
—JOSÉ MÁRMOL.
Go and tell him to please come here.
Ve y dile que tenga la bondad de venir acá.—LOS QUINTERO.
Note.—Aquí is sometimes found with verbs of motion, but acá is the commoner form.
(a) Here accompanying the offer of something may be rendered by the imperative of tomar, to take, or by aquí with the verb tener.
Haven't you a pencil? Well, here. I have two.
¿No tiene usted lápiz? Pues, tome. Yo tengo dos.
Here's the money they gave me for you.
Aquí tiene usted el dinero que me dieron para usted.
(b) To be here in the sense of to arrive is translated llegar.
They will be here in time according to what they write me.
Llegarán a tiempo según me escriben.
30. English well as an adverb is translated bien; as an adjective it is bueno. As an introductory word having no grammatical connection with the rest of the sentence it is rendered bien, bueno, or pues. With exclamatory force it may be rendered ¡vaya! or ¡toma!
It is very well made, isn't it?
Está muy bien hecho, ¿no?
He must stay here until he gets well.
Debe quedar aquí hasta que se ponga bueno.
Well, that's done. And now what else is there to do?
Bueno (bien), ya está hecho eso. Y ahora, ¿qué más hay que hacer?
Well, I feel ill, very ill.
Pues yo me siento mal, muy mal.—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
Well! Here am I to get everybody out of difficulties.
¡Vaya! Aquí estoy yo para sacar de apuros a todo el mundo.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
31. The verb to hold as a synonym of to have is translated tener; meaning to contain it is contener. When it indicates that a thing has a certain capacity it is translated caber en. In this last sense the English subject becomes in Spanish the object of the preposition en, while the English object becomes the subject of caber.
He held his hat in his hand all the time.
Tenía el sombrero en la mano todo el tiempo.
This box holds all that I want.
Este cajón contiene todo lo que yo necesito.
We shall have to get another sack. This one holds only a pound.
Tendremos que buscar otro saco. En éste cabe solo una libra.
Contiene solo una libra would mean there is only a pound in it.
Note.—A very common expression is no cabe duda, which translates there is no doubt.
(a) The phrase to hold out has many translations, according to its meanings as here illustrated.
He held out (offered) his hand to me.
Me ofreció la mano.
He held out his hand for the money.
Extendió la mano para el dinero.
He held out (persisted) for a week.
Se mantuvo firme por una semana.
The coffee held out (there was enough).
Hubo bastante cafe.
(a) 1. El vino acá en el tranvía. 2. Pues, que lo haga tan bien como yo lo he hecho. 3. No cabían en el barco más de cuatro personas. 4. Búsqueme un cesto más grande. En éste no caben las manzanas. 5. El cajón contenía frutas y dulces. 6. ¿Y la familia? Están todos buenos según me escriben. 7. Con tal que haya bastante harina, no nos falta más. 8. Está cansadísimo. No sé si se le mantendrán las fuerzas hasta que llegue a casa. 9. ¡Vaya! ¿Usted aquí? ¿Y desde cuándo?
(b) 1. This bottle will not hold all that ink. 2. Well, what shall I do with what is left? 3. Put it here and get another bottle. 4. New countries hold out better opportunities to young men than to old ones. 5. Well, everything is ready for them when they get here. 6. He held out the sack to show me what it held. 7. I can't help thinking that he is too young for the office that he holds. 8. How much is it? Well, here's the money. 9. How many books will this bookcase hold? 10. There is not the least doubt that they knew that the box held money.
LESSON XII
| Dios no hace las cosas a medias.[12] |
| —JOSÉ MÁRMOL. |
33. The adverb so expressing manner is rendered así, thus; as an adverb of degree so is tan. So much and so many are rendered tanto, -a, tantos, -as, when used adjectively or pronominally. As an adverb so much is tanto.
And I am to live so, as long as I am alone.
Y así he de vivir mientras esté solo.—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
I didn't know that it was so hard to do that.
Yo no sabía que era tan difícil hacer eso.
That's why they make so many mistakes (are mistaken so many times).
De ahí que se equivoquen tantas veces.—LOS QUINTERO.
I don't need so much. You take what's left.
Yo no necesito tanto. Tome usted lo que sobra.
(a) Used in the manner of a neuter pronoun so is rendered lo.
I asked him to call them and he did so at once.
Le rogué los llamase y lo hizo en seguida.
(b) In such expressions as I think so, I believe so, he says so, where so stands for an affirmative clause, it is translated que sí.
Is it going to snow? John says so.
¿Va a nevar? Juan dice que sí.
"I think so," he said, taking the instruments from the man's hands.
Creo que sí, dijo, tomando los instrumentos de las manos del hombre.
—JOSÉ MÁRMOL.
(c) The conjunctive phrase and so is rendered y así when it is equal to and therefore. When it is equivalent to well, then, it is rendered conque.
We weren't busy, and so we could help them.
Nosotros no estábamos ocupados y así podíamos ayudarlos.
And so you say they are to be here at five o'clock?
Conque, ¿dice usted que han de estar aquí a las cinco?
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
34. English to keep in its simplest meaning of to retain is rendered guardar or quedarse con. It has many other meanings, most of which may be obtained by paraphrase. So: to keep (observe) a holiday; to keep quiet (be still, stop talking); to keep out (not to enter); to keep in (not to let go out); to keep on (to continue, or not to take off); to keep from (to hinder, prevent, abstain from).
Well, I'm going to keep what I have.
Pues, yo voy a quedarme con lo que tengo.
At home we keep all the national holidays.
En casa observamos todas las fiestas nacionales.
Well, I agree, and I keep on sacrificing myself.
Pues, me conformo, y sigo sacrificándome.—ECHEGARAY.
The noise of the street kept him from sleeping.
El ruido de la calle le impidió el dormir.—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
Tell them to come back. I will keep them just a moment.
Dígales que vuelvan. Los detendré un momento, nada más.
(a) 1. Así es, por desgracia. No te espero hoy. 2. La cordera siguió corriendo y llegó a lo alto de las peñas. 3. Guardó un asiento vacío junto al suyo. 4. Ha retenido la mitad de lo que me debe. 5. Su enfermedad le impidió que adelantara en sus estudios. 6. Si todos nos mantenemos quietos, no sabrán que estámos aquí. 7. Yo le dije que callase, pero siguió hablando. 8. Conque, se marchan ustedes hoy ¿no?
(b) 1. I don't know why she wants so much to see me. 2. Of course if she wants to go, I can't keep her from it. 3. She keeps on writing to me, asking me not to keep it. 4. Has he kept back more than he should? They say so. 5. He always keeps out of the house when he sees that the maid has just cleaned the floors. 6. In Spain and South America they keep all the church holidays. 7. This lesson is not so hard (difficult). 8. If it keeps on raining, you must keep on your raincoats. 9. I tried to keep the children from making so much noise. 10. Keep them out of this room for just a few minutes.
LESSON XIII
| Mi opulencia es la sencillez; mi lujo, la sobriedad; mi reposo, el trabajo.[13]—PÉREZ GALDÓS. |
(a) 1. Ask as many questions as you want to. 2. I have not been so busy for a long time. 3. I asked the young lady how much the hat was. 4. Well, we will look for it here and if we can't find it we will send him to get another. 5. We had been gone for an hour when they got here. 6. This is a situation that cannot last longer. 7. You will get better. Why (si), you are better! 8. Did you know that man before? Yes, I made his acquaintance last year. 9. I have just seen your parents go in. It is just eight o'clock.
(b) 1. He can't help seeing that it is too large. 2. The poor girl looks ill. 3. I don't know how she has been able to work so long. 4. I am waiting for my brother; I can't get in till he comes because I have lost my key. 5. Ah, here he comes. I was just going to send some one to look for you. 6. Even the teacher couldn't help laughing. 7. I have not seen the sun since morning. I'm sure it will rain before night. 8. It is impossible to know how to speak a language well without practice. 9. Shall you be here when we get back? 10. If I can get him to lend me the money, I will buy it from (a) you.
(c) 1. How long do you think they will be able to hold out? 2. In her arms she held a pretty little girl. 3. I have only a very little, nevertheless this valise won't hold it. 4. This little basket just holds a dozen. 5. This pitcher holds just a quart. 6. Keep a place for me near you. 7. I asked him who said so. 8. I don't know what to do with so many books and still you keep on buying more. 9. Who says that? He says so. 10. Is he ready? He says so.
LESSON XIV
| El hombre que se avergüenza de ser feliz debe andar en cuatro pies.[14]—Tomayo y Baus. |
37. English to leave has three principal translations. Meaning to depart it is rendered partir; meaning to go out of it is salir; and meaning to allow to remain it is dejar.
He left for London yesterday.
Partió para Londres ayer.
For two months I haven't been able to leave the house.
Hace dos meses que no puedo salir de la casa.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
The train had left him in the East station.
El tren le había dejado en la estación del Este.
—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
(a) In the sense of to let, dejar is used.
Leave the poor child alone! He's not bothering you.
¡Déjale al pobre niño! No te molesta a tí.
(b) To leave off in the sense of to stop is rendered dejar de or cesar de, followed by the infinitive.
He left off coming when he found out that he was not congenial to us.
Dejó de venir cuando supo que no nos era simpático.
—BENAVENTE.
(c) To have something left is translated quedar or sobrar.
I know you have no time left for social life.
Ya sé que no le sobra tiempo para la vida social.—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
I used to have a lot, but I have very little left now.
Antes tenía mucho, pero me queda muy poco ahora.
I gave him four, but he has only two left now.
Le dí cuatro, pero ya no le quedan más de dos.
Note.—In this construction notice that the English subject becomes the indirect object of the verbs quedar and sobrar, while the thing "left" is the subject. The Spanish says literally, to him are left only two. Note also the order: object, verb, subject.
38. To let, meaning to allow, is rendered dejar.
The poor woman has died of fatigue. Let her rest in peace.
La pobre mujer ha muerto de fatiga. Dejadla que descanse en paz.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
(a) When let is used with the third person in the sense of a command it is translated by que with the subjunctive. When the verb is in the first person plural, the que is omitted.
Let John take these letters to the post-office at once.
Que Juan lleve estas cartas al correo en seguida.
Let's go now. No, let us sit down here for a moment.
Vámonos ahora. No, sentémonos aquí por unos momentos.
(b) To let in, out, up, down, through are translated dejar entrar, salir, subir, bajar, pasar por.
Don't let that dog in. I have just put him out.
No dejes entrar a ese perro. Acabo de hacerle salir.
They couldn't open the door, but they let me in through the window.
No podían abrir la puerta, pero me dejaron entrar por la ventana.
(a) 1. Salga Vd. de la sala y no vuelva Vd. a entrar. 2. Si no han partido todavía, dígales que quiero verlos antes que se marchen. 3. No salimos de la casa antes que dejó de llover. 4. No sé si me dejarán acompañarla a usted. 5. Que vayan a traérmelo en seguida. 6. ¿Les sobrará mucho? Creo que sí. 7. Partimos mañana en el tren de la mañana. 8. Su madre no quiere dejarle acompañarnos. 9. Las mujeres dejaban sus ocupaciones de la casa y salían a las puertas. 10. Todavía me queda la pequeña casa que me dejó mi padre.
(b) 1. We will not let you leave until it leaves off raining. 2. They have all left their umbrellas at home. 3. When he had paid for his dinner he had two dollars left. 4. They left five minutes ago. 5. I have just one old umbrella left for myself. 6. Let Mary let them in through the kitchen door. 7. Let's ask him how many he has left. 8. If I have any money left after I have bought all the things that they are asking me for, I will let you take it. 9. We can't do much with what is left.
LESSON XV
| La ley es Dios—o debe serlo.[15] |
| —PÉREZ GALDÓS. |
40. English now is generally translated ahora, but when it means already it is rendered ya.
I am going to take a walk through the village now.
Voy a salir a dar una vuelta por el pueblo ahora.
—LOS QUINTERO.
I have been a workman in the shops for a week now.
Soy operario de los talleres hace ya una semana.
—LOS QUINTERO.
(a) The phrases well, now, and now, then, may be rendered ahora bien. The exclamatory phrase come, now! is expressed ¡vamos!, ¡vaya!, or ¡ea!
Come now, Antonio dear, a little patience!
¡Ea, Antoñito, un poco de paciencia!—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
Come now! Tell me everything. I am your friend.
¡Vamos! Confíemelo todo. Yo soy su amiga.
—MARIANO JOSÉ DE LARRA.
(b) Now ... now ... is translated ya ... ya ... or ora ... ora ....
Now it was too hot, now it was too cold for him.
Ya hacía demasiado calor, ya demasiado frío.
Note.—The phrase from now on is translated de aquí en adelante.
41. English about as a preposition meaning of is translated de; meaning in regard to or concerning it is rendered acerca de; meaning almost, nearly, in the neighborhood of it is cerca de or más o menos.
What are you talking about?
¿De qué habla usted?
I have to write to him about that matter.
Tengo que escribirle acerca de ese asunto.
I have about a hundred.
Tengo cerca de ciento (ciento más o menos).
42. To be about to is rendered estar al punto de or estar para.
When we arrived, the others were about to leave.
Al llegar nosotros, estaban los otros para salir.
43. The verb to feel meaning to experience, perceive is rendered sentir; meaning to be of the opinion, think it is rendered pensar, ser de la opinion, parecerle a uno; meaning to have the feeling of it is rendered ser ... al tacto; meaning to touch it is palpar or tentar.
I feel for this man a tremendous interest.
Siento por este hombre un interés tremendo.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
Do you feel ill? Just a little pain.
¿Te sientes malo? Un dolorcillo, nada más.
—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
Well, I feel that it would be better to return now.
Pues, a mí me parece que sería mejor volver ahora.
What's in this bag? It is something that feels hard.
¿Qué hay en este saco? Es algo que es muy duro al tacto.
Feel this. It's too hard, isn't it?
Palpe (Tiente) éste. Es demasiado duro, ¿no?
(a) 1. Ahora tengo ganas de bailar. 2. Pero ya no ha de ir usted, ¿verdad? 3. Por desgracia ya me quedan pocos. 4. De aquí en adelante se ha de trocar mi adversa fortuna en próspera. 5. Palpaba su chaqueta para ver si estaba mojada. 6. Me gusta mucho esta tela. Es muy blanda al tacto. 7. Eran cerca de las ocho cuando oimos sonar una campana. 8. Ya es hora de acabar. 9. Los viejos sienten el frío. 10. Ya lo vi y ya desapareció de nuevo.
(b) 1. He feels better now. It's not necessary to call the doctor. 2. Do you want to see them? Well, they have come now. 3. He has about two hundred books in his library. 4. Come now! You know what I told you just now (see Section 24 (c)). 5. Feel his hands. How cold they are! 6. It was about six o'clock when we felt the first shock of the earthquake. 7. He was feeling his way (to feel one's way, andar a tientas) in the dark corridor. 8. We do not feel safe here, but father feels that it would be foolish to go out just now.
LESSON XVI
| Hacer bien a los villanos es echar agua en la mar.[16] |
| —CERVANTES. |
45. English will as an auxiliary has two meanings. As denoting simple futurity it is in Spanish included in the future form of the verb. As a synonym of to want to, will is translated by the present tense of the verb querer.
They will get here to-morrow and then I will tell them.
Llegarán mañana y se lo diré entonces.
I will tell it to as many as (all who) will listen to me.
Lo diré a cuantos quieran oirme.—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
Note.—In case of doubt substitute is going to or wants to for will. If the former keeps the sense, use the future tense; if the latter, use querer.
(a) Shall, denoting simple futurity, is included in the future tense.
I shall not be able to come. Shall you be here?
Yo no podré venir. ¿Estará usted aquí?
Expressing determination on the part of the speaker, shall must be translated by a clause or by deber with the infinitive.
You say he has stolen your bicycle? Well, he shall return it at once.
¿Dice Vd. que se le ha robado su bicicleta? Pues, yo haré que se la devuelva en seguida, or debe devolverla.
46. The word all, commonly translated todo, has many different translations which should be learned in the phrases in which they occur. Of these the commonest are: all at once, all of a sudden, de repente; all right, bueno, bien, está bien; all alone, solo, solito; first of all, en primer lugar, ante todo; not at all, de ningún modo, no hay de que (an expression of courtesy in reply to the person who says thank you); all over (everywhere), por todas partes.
(a) All that or all the ... that may be translated literally todo lo que or todos los ... but they are frequently rendered by cuanto and cuantos.
Up to now I did all that was in my power for you.
Hasta ahora hice cuanto estaba en mis manos por vosotros.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
I have at my disposal all the money that I may need.
Tengo a mi disposición cuanto dinero pueda necesitar.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
I am very much obliged to you. Not at all, sir, not at all.
Le estoy muy agradecido a usted. No hay de que, señor, no hay de que.
Note also the phrase it's all the same (it makes no difference), lo mismo da.
(a) 1. No es de ningún modo lo que se llama hombre rico. 2. Ya es tarde. Tendrá ganas de marcharse. 3. Al decirme la señora "Muchas gracias," yo respondí "No hay de que, señora." 4. Le hemos convidado a acompañarnos, pero no quiere venir. 5. Vendrá mañana y le prometemos a usted que haremos que vuelva en seguida. 6. No queremos dejarte solo solito. Ven tú también. 7. No quiere callarse, pero lo mismo da. No le hacemos caso. 8. De repente se puso a buscarlo por todas partes de la casa. 9. En primer lugar debe devolver todo lo que necesita usted, ante (above) todo los cuadernos. 10. Vamos a ver. ¿Está bien la cuenta?
(b) 1. Is that all you have to do? Well, I'm going to look for another job for you. 2. He says he won't stay here all alone. 3. Is your letter written? Well, my son shall take it to the post-office with mine. 4. There will be a masked ball this evening. Shall you go? 5. What shall I tell them? Tell them that we shall not send the things till they ask for them. 6. All right. Tell me when it is all over (to be all over, acabarse). 7. He will give you all you want if you ask him for it. 8. I have already asked him many times, but he will not listen to me. 9. All the brothers I have are older than I am. 10. Well, since they say they will not do it, I shall have to do it myself.
LESSON XVII
| Es difícil salvar a quien no quiere salvarse de ningún modo.[17] |
| —BENAVENTE. |
48. The word way meaning road is translated camino; meaning manner or mode it is rendered manera or modo.
Our sailor was on the way to become rich.
Nuestro marinero estaba en camino de hacerse rico.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
Don't talk to me in that way if you don't want to make me cry.
No me hables de este modo si no quieres hacerme llorar.
—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
(a) This way and that way indicating direction are rendered por aquí and por allí.
At any rate (any way) I shall come this way to see your nephew.
De todos modos pasaré por aquí para ver a su sobrino.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
When strongly demonstrative this way and that way are rendered así, thus:
Do you want me to do it this way or that way?
¿Quiere usted que yo lo haga así o así?
(b) My way, your way, etc., meaning as I do it, as you do it, are rendered como lo hago yo, como lo hace usted, etc.
To do it your way I should need more time.
Para hacerlo como lo hace usted yo necesitaría más tiempo.
(c) To have one's own way is translated hacer su voluntad or hacer como quiere uno.
You don't want to do it? Well, have your own way.
¿No quieres hacerlo? Bueno, haz tu voluntad.
They spoil her by letting her have her own way all the time.
La miman dejándola hacer como quiere todo el tiempo.
49. The adjective hard is rendered duro when it means not soft; difícil, when it means not easy. As an adverb meaning vigorously, energetically, diligently, it should be rendered by the Spanish adverb that fits best in the sentence. So, to study hard (diligently); to blow hard (strongly); to work hard (diligently or much); to think hard (deeply, intently).
This bread is so hard that it is hard to cut it.
Este pan es tan duro que es difícil cortarlo.
The wind blew hard all night.
El viento sopló fuertemente toda la noche.
You will have to study harder if you want to pass.
Tendrá Vd. que estudiar más diligentemente si quiere ser promovido.
He has had to work hard all his life.
Ha tenido que trabajar mucho toda la vida.
50. The verb to give is generally dar, but it has many idiomatic translations. So, to give back (return), devolver; to give in or give up (consent, yield), consentir, ceder, rendir; to give up (renounce), renunciar; to give out (publish; fail), publicar; acabarse, concluirse.
And now give me something to eat.
Y ahora dame algo que comer.—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
This man never gives in.
Este hombre no se rinde nunca.—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
After walking a very short distance, her strength gave out.
Después de andar muy corta distancia, se le acabaron las fuerzas.
(a) 1. Se lo devolví ayer. 2. Primero se acabó la harina y después al azúcar. 3. Se proclamó (publicó, anunció) que la reunión se verificaría aquel mismo día. 4. Estaba cansado de tanto correr. 5. Habrá que renunciar todo eso si quiere tener éxito. 6. Vamos por allí. Es más corto el camino. 7. Quiere descansar después de tanto trabajar. 8. De este modo nunca llegaremos. 9. Hemos hecho lo posible para persuadirles, pero no quieren ceder.
(b) 1. If he does it, he will have to do it my way. 2. They have not yet given out the names of the committee. 3. My ink gave out and I had to use a pencil. 4. If you write it that way, it will be hard to read it. 5. He gave up his family for his country. 6. Well, I expect to have my own way in regard to this matter. 7. We took the longest way to get home. 8. In that way you will never get to where you want to go. 9. Come here! Don't get excited in that way. 10. It's raining hard now; if it doesn't stop soon, it will be hard to get home. 11. It's hard work for me to believe that (say, it costs me work).
LESSON XVIII
| Yo nunca tengo miedo cuando hago lo que debo.[18] |
| —ECHEGARAY. |
52. The verb to think in the sense of to reflect or intend is pensar (en). As a synonym of to believe it is creer. Where it seems to me, to him, etc., may be substituted for I think, he thinks, etc., the verb parecer in the third person is used, the English subject becoming the Spanish indirect object.
You will not think of returning to Salamanca to-day.
Usted no pensará en regresar a Salamanca hoy.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
Do you think I didn't understand?
¿Cree usted que yo no lo he comprendido?
—JOSÉ MARMÓL.
Sir, I think you have dropped something.
Caballero, me parece que se le ha caído algo.
—EMILIA PARDO BAZÁN.
53. The verb to make in its simplest use is rendered hacer. It has, however, a very large number of idiomatic uses that call for other translations. Of these, some of the commonest are: to make haste, darse prisa; to make fun of, burlarse de, mofárse de; to make the acquaintance of, conocer; to make up one's mind, decidirse, resolverse, or, in the perfect tenses, tener determinado.
The machinery was making so much noise that we could not hear what he said.
Hacía tanto ruido la maquinaria que no podíamos oír lo que dijo.
Make haste if you don't want to be late.
Dese prisa si no quiere llegar con retraso.
I have come exclusively to make the acquaintance of this young lady.
He venido exclusivamente por conocer a esta señorita.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
Her brothers, on the other hand, made fun of her.
Sus hermanos en cambio se burlaban de ella.
—BENAVENTE.
When he makes up his mind to do something he does it, and now he has made up his mind not to keep on helping them.
Cuando se resuelve (decide) a hacer algo lo hace, y ya tiene determinado que no seguirá amparándolos.
(a) To make up for may mean recuperate, compensate, or recompense, and in these senses is translated by the cognate verbs recuperar, compensar, recompensar.
The money that he has just received from his father will make up for his losses.
El dinero que acaba de recibir de su padre le compensará por lo perdido.
I'm sorry I forgot to tell you. How can I make up to you for it?
Siento haberme olvidado de decírselo. ¿Cómo puedo recompensárselo?
(a) 1. Al pasar por su cuarto la vieron rezando y se burlaron de ella. 2. ¿Qué le parece mi protegido ya que le conoce usted? 3. Ya tengo bastante en que pensar. 4. ¿Le parecen a usted bien las vendas de este ancho? 5. ¿No creen ustedes que el trabajar tanto será perjudicial para su salud? 6. Dígale que se dé prisa. Ya estamos para partir. 7. Si no se mejora en unos días, creo que debemos llamar al médico. 8. ¿Tiene usted las manos limpias? Me parece que sí. 9. Le conocí el año pasado en Londres. 10. Ya se ha recuperado de sus grandes perdidos.
(b) 1. We have all made up our minds not to give away all that we possess. 2. Do you think that what I want to do is all right? 3. If you don't make haste you will not have the pleasure of making the acquaintance of the famous author. 4. We shall have to make up to you what you have suffered through our carelessness. 5. We are thinking of making up a party to go to the theater to-night. 6. Do you think they will go with us if we ask them? 7. They very often quarrel, but they are never long in making up. 8. Wait a minute. I think I dropped something. 9. Who made this? It is very well made, isn't it? 10. They have had (llevado) a great disappointment, but this kind offer will make up to them for it.