th difference between hace -v- desde haceA valuable lesson! But can you please explain the difference in the use of "hace" and "desde hace"? It seems that "hace" means "ago":
Lo compré hace tres semanas. - I bought it three weeks ago.
And that "desde hace" means "for": Lo tengo desde hace tres semanas. - I’ve had it for three weeks.
However I keep coming across examples where either "desde hace" or "hace" can mean both "for" or "ago". Does it depend on context as to which one means "for" or "ago" or are they interchangeable?
It seems that translation is dependent upon interpretation:
"que no saldrá del cajón y le saldrán telerañas" translates as "which won't leave the drawer and it leaves with cobwebs" BUT is interpreted to mean "which will stay in the drawer gathering cobwebs".
I note that in Mexico, official documents have to be translated "literally" but in the case above, that really wouldn't make much sense! How far can one go in interpreting versus translating?
xx
Excellent having these examples of pleasantries all in one place.
The lesson addresses masculine singular nouns but not feminine singular nouns.
Would we say:
El guiso lleva mucha salvia.
OR Comiste mucha coliflor.
Thanks.
When we are referring back to people or persons in Spanish both words are feminine. So by translating, "for those arriving" it would have to be "las que llegan" no? If not what masculine word is "los" referring back to? Thanks.
Hi Inma,
The translation is given as “every journey has become a thrilling (?) adventure.” If convertirse (en) is the verb of choice here for “become”, would it have been better to give a different translation perhaps “every journey has turned into a thrilling adventure.”
It strikes me that “convertirse en” just doesn’t fit with your lesson where you say that it is used to describe “A radical change in personality or profession,” and is interchangeable with “hacerse” in that regard. Hence a different translation would have steered me towards either “convertirse en” or “volverse” [which is what I chose]. That said, your lessons on this topic deal with people becoming a certain way, rather than situations changing. Perhaps the guidance for the former cannot be carried through to the latter. Can you clarify this in any way? Saludos. John
A valuable lesson! But can you please explain the difference in the use of "hace" and "desde hace"? It seems that "hace" means "ago":
Lo compré hace tres semanas. - I bought it three weeks ago.
And that "desde hace" means "for": Lo tengo desde hace tres semanas. - I’ve had it for three weeks.
However I keep coming across examples where either "desde hace" or "hace" can mean both "for" or "ago". Does it depend on context as to which one means "for" or "ago" or are they interchangeable?
It seems that translation is dependent upon interpretation:
"que no saldrá del cajón y le saldrán telerañas" translates as "which won't leave the drawer and it leaves with cobwebs" BUT is interpreted to mean "which will stay in the drawer gathering cobwebs".
I note that in Mexico, official documents have to be translated "literally" but in the case above, that really wouldn't make much sense! How far can one go in interpreting versus translating?
xx
Do we also use a zero article when talking about other fundamental aspects of who we are? I am thinking of things like gender (I'm a woman; I'm a man) or familial identity (I'm a mom; I'm an uncle).
Inma's answer below on time clauses and manner clauses got my attention and I looked at other web sites to learn about the types of adverbial clauses. This is a rich topic with lots to explore. It would be great if you could do a lesson on Kwiziq on the types of adverbial clauses.
When should we use "Si" or "Como?"
With the sentence below, is it also ok to use Si? If not, why? Is it because Si triggers the subjunctive?
Como me ofrezcan el trabajo voy a hacer una gran fiesta.
Please help me follow this explanation.
"We use the preposition "de" after the adjective..." by adjective do you mean facil/dificil?
when the subject is "the thing" (el armario) - Can you expand please as to what "the subject being the thing" means? What thing? What does thing refer to here?
"...not when the subject is "doing something" (montar el armario)." Isn't the subject always doing something? I don't understand this distinction.
All the examples are great and I can sense the pattern but I'd like something more concrete to be able to lock-in to the rule please :-)
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