Spanish language Q&A Forum

Hola Inma,

1. "hacen diferentes actividades [como]" ...The translation offered was "different activities such as ....": I wrote tal como for "such as" and was marked incorrect. My dictionary gives tal como as "such as / for instance" and this seems to be correct for the sentence. My dictionary gives como as "such as" as well, but with the meaning "similar to."  Would a better translation have been "different activities like ......."?

2. This is about the use of "preocuparse de." The translation offered is "since they look after them at all times." I understood that the use of " preocuparse de" indicates that you worry about something in the way of occupying your mind / concerning yourself, while "preocuparse por" indicates that you may be worried about something or someone. The more research I do on this the more confusing it becomes because "ocuparse de" also seems to mean look after someone, and that seems to be closer to the translation. Either way my suggestion of preocuparse por was marked incorrect. 

It would be great to have some guidance on this.

Saludos. John

The title of my question is only an example of several variations I've found on the same theme: when to use reflexive and when to use estar+participle? 

Me sorprendí cuando me propuso matrimonio

Estaba sorprendida cuando me propuso matrimonio

It seems to me that the reflexive above suggests more of an action (it surprised me...), while estar+participle suggests a state (being in a state of surprise).  

Could you explain and demonstrate by example how one might be chosen over the other?  

Also, the reflexive seems to be prompting me to add que+subjunctive (Me sorprendí que me propusiera matrimonio), but the participle version does not.

As you see, I'm a little confused and I wonder if my confusion comes from learning Latin American Spanish? The participle seems to occur more often when I read that variant. 

Saludos a todos

Why is una gata? I thought this is male noun un or el gato.

When using the de + infinitive construction, does the tense used in the main clause indicate the level of probability? Eg present = possible, future = less possible, conditional = very unlikely/impossible?

When is use of de + infinitive preferable to using the conditional si construction?

I find it interesting [and useful] that in the constructions described here, the *Present* Subjunctive is allowed - whereas we can never put a Present Subjunctive immediately after a "Si ...  " > (It usually has to be an *Imperfect* Subjunctive; or perhaps a Pluperfect one?) ... Perhaps we can say that the events in this lesson are more likely to happen than those in a "Si + Imperf. Subj." clause?

Hi teachers, 

(I know there are other lessons on this, which I've done, but I'm still confused) - Following on from Melissa's question below and using the same example for clarity; 

The relative pronoun 'el/la que' doesn't appear in this lesson, 

what would be the difference then, if we said 'El director del colegio, EL QUE trabaja duro, es respetado por todos?' 

I've always understood el/la que to mean 'THE ONE who/which', so I would think using 'el que' would imply there are two headteachers, one who works hard and is respected, and one who doesn't. 

But in a grammar book I have, it gives the example; 'Esta autora, que/quien/la cual/LA QUE vive en Brasil, va a visitar nuestra ciudad', (This author, WHO lives in Brasil...)

Please help me to understand. Thanks. 

In the lesson you give examples for estar deseando in imperfect, but not for tener ganas de. I feel pretty sure I could use tener ganas de in imperfect as well, but neither seems to fit well with preterite. 

Could you say more about how these two are used with other moods and tenses and what limitations, if any, exist.

EDIT: Sorry, I see you answered part of this in an earlier reply. However, could you indicate any other limitations that might apply. I wonder about subjunctive too.