3-18

Question 1

We have Mark here in top form today.

Answer 1

Tenemos aquí a Mark en plena forma hoy.

Question 2

We’re going to talk about a topic that Mark and I have been discussing a little while ago.

Answer 2

Vamos a hablar de un tema que Mark y yo hemos estado discutiendo hace un ratito. (Note that discutir used transitively (i.e. with an object) means to discuss something, e.g. hemos discutido el problema. However, when it is used intransitively (with no object) then it means “to argue”. If you want to “argue about something”, then you use discutir por algo)

Question 3

I was thinking about all the work I had to do with my accounts and I saw on the Internet a scanner that can be used to scan receipts and invoices so I thought, what a cool idea!

Answer 3

Estaba pensando en todo el trabajo que tenía que hacer con mis cuentas y vi en Internet un escáner que se puede utilizar para escanear los recibos y las facturas entonces pensé, ¡qué idea más guay!

Question 4

There was no one who could help me.

Answer 4

No había nadie que me pudiera ayudar.

Question 5

I think that buying via the Internet always has this risk factor, right?

Answer 5

Yo creo que comprar por Internet siempre tiene este factor de riesgo ¿no?

Question 6

Well, I bought a book and they brought me another one that wasn’t the one I had ordered.

Answer 6

Bueno me compré un libro y me trajeron otro que no era el que yo había pedido.

Question 7

They have the same selection, the same range of things as us who live quite close to the city, right?

Answer 7

Tienen la misma selección, la misma gama de cosas que nosotros que vivimos bastante cerca de la ciudad ¿no? (Note: el mismo.. que = same [noun] as)

Question 8

Everyone buys the same things without even having tried them.

Answer 8

Todo el mundo compra las mismas cosas sin ni siquiera haberlas probado.

Question 9

What a curious thing, right?

Answer 9

¿Qué cosa más curiosa, no?

Question 10

I can spend hours looking through books and magazines.

Answer 10

Puedo pasar horas ojeando los libros y las revistas. (Ojear = to have a look at)

Question 11

But if, for example, I want to buy a book, it could be that the bookstore does not have it.

Answer 11

Pero si por ejemplo quiero comprar un libro, puede ser que la librería no lo tenga.

Question 12

Can you bring me a copy of this book I’m looking for?

Answer 12

¿Puedes traerme un ejemplar de este libro que estoy buscando?

Question 13

I still think that buying online loses all its charm.

Answer 13

Sigo pensando que pierde todo el encanto comprar por Internet. (Sigo pensado = I still think. Seguir followed by gerund = to keep on / to continue / to still be; perder el encanto = to lose the ‘magic’ / to lose the charm)

Question 14

I’m sure you’re with me on this, I’m sure you also like to go spend the afternoon in a bookstore, have a coffee, go to the second floor, look through the travel magazines…

Answer 14

Seguro que estás conmigo en esto, seguro que a ti también te gusta ir a pasar la tarde a una librería, tomarte un café, ir a la segunda planta, ojear las revistas de viajes…

Question 15

You know here I lose my credibility.

Answer 15

Sabes aquí pierdo mi credibilidad.

Question 16

some expired product..

Answer 16

algún producto caducado..

Question 17

No, I prefer to go to a store and try on clothes and make sure it’s my size.

Answer 17

No, prefiero ir a una tienda y probarme ropa y asegurarme de que es mi talla. (Asegurarse [typically followed by “de que”]= to ensure/ to make sure)

Question 18

She didn’t want to meet anyone at the party wearing her same dress.

Answer 18

No quería encontrarse con nadie en la fiesta que llevara su mismo vestido. (Llevara is the imperfect subjunctive, following the imperfect quería)

Question 19

I like to show off as a model.

Answer 19

Me gusta presumir de modelo. [Alternate definition = I like to play the model i.e. I like to assume (the role of) the model]. (Presumir = to show off/ to gloat/ to assume; presumir de algo = to flaunt; modelo = model [profession/ clothing design/ example/ type])

Question 20

It’s something out of the ordinary, just so that it’s clear.

Answer 20

Es algo fuera de lo normal, que quede claro. (que quede claro = just so that it’s clear. This is a set phrase commonly used in such a situation. However, notice that the use of que followed by the subjunctive simply means “may it remain clear”.)

Question 21

I assure you that’s not the case

Answer 21

Os aseguro que no.

Question 22

Alba is not very convinced.

Answer 22

Alba no está muy convencida.

Question 23

So maybe you have already heard about it since it is a historical monument protected by UNESCO.

Answer 23

Entonces igual ya habéis oído hablar de ella ya que es un monumento histórico protegido por la UNESCO. (Oir hablar de = to hear of/ to hear about)

Question 24

There are Arab palaces that are… they seem like something out of a story, really like a fairy tale.

Answer 24

Hay palacios árabes que son… parecen de cuento, de verdad de cuento de hadas. (cuento [m] de hadas = fairytale; parecer de [place] = to seem to be from [somewhere])

Question 25

It is a “cheap” place, we could say in quotes.

Answer 25

Es un sitio “barato” podríamos decir entre comillas.

Question 26

Temperatures are usually around thirty-five, even forty degrees in summer.

Answer 26

Las temperaturas suelen rondar los treinta y cinco incluso los cuarenta grados en verano. (Rondar = to be about [to be more or less]

Question 27

You make me want to [do something]

Answer 27

Me das ganas de

Question 28

Today I’m a little fed up because sometimes I have the impression that no one ever listens to me, and sometimes, I have to have the patience of a saint.

Answer 28

Hoy estoy un poco harto porque a veces tengo la impresión de que nunca nadie me escucha, y a veces, tengo que tener la paciencia de un santo.

Question 29

Your head is always in the clouds; [you never pay attention]

Answer 29

¡es que estás siempre en las nubes!

Question 30

Talking to you is like talking to the wall!

Answer 30

¡Hablar contigo es como hablar con la pared!

Question 31

the majority of the time/ most of the time

Answer 31

la mayoría de las veces

Question 32

it makes your life easier

Answer 32

te hace la vida más fácil