Tocar + noun. Which rule does tocar fit in when it is used in the following sentence .

Mary Z.C1Kwiziq community member

Tocar + noun. Which rule does tocar fit in when it is used in the following sentence .

Could you please explain tocar fits into one of the rules. Is it her turn to get the strict teachers?

Siempre me tocan los profesores estrictos.

Asked 1 year ago
InmaNative Spanish expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hola Mary

In this sentence using tocar idiomatically:

Siempre me tocan los profesores estrictos.

I always "get" strict teachers.

tocar has a specific meaning used this way. It means that a person "gets" something. This could be used in a possitive or negative way:

 

Siempre me tocan pasajeros charlatanes en el asiento de al lado en el avión. Yo solo quiero descansar y ellos siempre quieren charlar. 

I always get chatty passengers on the seat next to me on the plane. I only want to rest and they always want to chat.

 

¡Qué suerte tienes! Te han tocado unos padres estupendos.

You're so lucky! You got great parents. 

 

Me tocó la última fila y no podía ver nada.

I got the last row and I couldn't see anything. 

 

It is talking about what you "get" by chance. 

I hope it clarifies it. 

Saludos

David L.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

If you check the lesson Tocar + Infinitive it includes the following uses:

Cuando yo sea vieja, te tocará aguantar mis impertinencias.When I am old you will have to put up with my nonsense. A Elisa le había tocado hacer turno doble en el hospital.Elisa had had to do a double shift at the hospital. Si empiezas el trabajo mañana, te tocaría archivar los expedientes a primera hora.If you started work tomorrow [lit: if you start ...] you'd have to file the dossiers first thing.
Mary Z. asked:

Tocar + noun. Which rule does tocar fit in when it is used in the following sentence .

Could you please explain tocar fits into one of the rules. Is it her turn to get the strict teachers?

Siempre me tocan los profesores estrictos.

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