Spanish language Q&A Forum

"Sería tan romántico que mas las diera" is a B2 construction.

Hello Lawless Spanish,

I JUST found your excellent web site. I've been using various means to learn Spanish over the last 1.5 years, but your site seems to be the best resource so far. I'm still at A1 however.

Here's a thought that I'd be interested to know your opinion on. Often while reading an English interpretation of a Spanish phrase or sentence, I think I would like to have the more literal translation rather than the Spanish being re-worded in order to be a grammatical English sentence. Because I don't care about English grammar or want my English reinforced when I'm trying to understand how a Spanish speaker constructs their thoughts linguistically. Do you know what I mean?

Take the example from the first exercise I happened to land on,  Corro para estar en forma. It would be helpful to see a more literal translation, then I get a better idea of the words and structure a Spanish speaker uses. In the example, "estar en forma" is re-interpreted as "to keep fit." That is quite a departure from the literal. I think an English speaker is quite capable of recognizing a more literal translation "to be in form" because it is identical to the common English phrase "to be in shape." So while I know authors are trying to be helpful with English re-interpretations, I often feel cheated out of knowing a more literal construction and wording, and in the process authors may even be making less-accurate interpretations (such as "to keep fit" instead of the better "to be in shape."). What do you think?  

sometimes the answers come back in English instead of spanish.  How can I fix that?

the lesson note wrote that due to english's influence, we do use en

then it says en can be used to mean within a time period such as en una hora = in, within one hour

is this use not recommended too? if so, what is the spanish correct way of saying within an hour etc?

This triggers subjunctive. may i ask if this is because this sentence is asking for advice?

Because i remember that only negative construction of opinions will trigger subjunctive, for example i dont think that = no creo que.. 

or is this understanding of mine wrong too?

thanks

Now everywhere I look online it suggests that this should only say 'lo dejé' and not 'me lo dejé'. Why would they add 'me'? It doesn't feel like it needs it, as the 'I forgot' bit is understood by dejé, and the 'it' by lo. It isn't reflexive I don't think. 

Thanks!