Modern Spanish Syntax: Chapter 5 Flashcards
He lived in Madrid for one year
Vivió en Madrid un año
He used to be (was) ambassador to France
Pret
Fue embajador en Francia
He has already left
Ya se fue
The wedding had been on Saturday
La boda fue el sábado
When he was writing, he was smoking
Mientras escribía, fumaba
When I arrived he was studying.
Cuando llegué, él estudiaba
As I was arriving, he was leaving
Cuando yo llegaba, el salía
They used to see each other often, as is the case with good friends
Se veían a menudo como suele ser con los buenos amigos
She had been studyig music for years
Hacía años que estudiaba música
She had known her for years
La conocía desde hacía años
He informed me he would return the following week
Me informó que regresaba la semana siguiente
If I had time, I would go
*use imperfect
Si tuviera tiempo, iba
He was charming
Era encantador
He was never a friend of mine
Nunca fue amigo mío
He was born, lived, and died in Salamanca
Nació, vivió y murió en Salamanca
He came in, greeted everyone, and shortly thereafter retired to his room
Entró, saludó a todos al rato se retiró a su cuarto
As soon as he saw me, he came to greet me
Ni bien me vio, vino a saludarme
He lived in Madrid for ten years
Vivió en Madrid diez años
He was ambassador to France from 1956 to 1960
Fue embajador en Francia de 1956 a 1960
He used to work for the State Department
*indefinite time preterit
Trabajó en el Departamento de Estado
Last summer he worked in Europe
El verano pasado trabajó en Europa
He used to live abroad
Vivió en el extranjero
Has he already left for home?
Ya se fue para su casa?
I have finished all the letters
Terminé todas las cartas
Have you finished your homework
Acabaste la tarea ya?
At last you have understood what I mean.
Por fin entendiste lo que quiero decir
He said he had been gravely ill
*immediate anteriority
Dijo que estuvo gravemente enfermo
We learned that the wedding had been on Saturday
*immediate anteriority
Supimos que la boda fue el sábado
He told me that he had difficulties with his boss
*immediate anteriority
Me contó que tuvo dificultades con su jefe
He said he was gravely ill
*co-existence/subsequence
Dijo que estaba gravemente enfermo
We learned that the wedding would be on Saturday
Supimos que la boda era el sábado
He told me he was having difficulties with his boss
Me contó que tenía dificultades con su jefe
The treaty was signed at three
*definite time
El tratado se firmó a las tres
He arrived at seven
*definite time
Llegó a las siete
Yesterday he studied all day long
*definite time
Ayer estudió todo el día
He lived in Salamanca all his life
*definite time
Vivió toda la vida en Salamanca
Last month he worked every weekend
*definite extension with adverbial of indefinite repitition
El mes pasado trabajó todos los fines de semana
He went to see her daily while she was sick
*definite extension with adverbial of indefinite repitition
La fue a ver todos los dias mientras estuvo enferma
He never missed a day’s work (while he worked)
*definite extension with adverbial of indefinite repitition
No faltó al trabajo nunca
He left yesterday
Se fue ayer
He sent the letter
Envió la carta
He shut the doors and windows
Cerró ventanas y puertas
She pointed out the offender
Señaló al culpable
They expelled him from the club
Lo expulsaron del club
World War I broke out in 1914
La primera guerra mundial estalló en 1914
I learned that you were leaving
Supe que te ibas
*initiative
I knew that you were leaving
Sabía que te ibas
*durative
I met her last night
La conocí anoche
*initiative
I knew her well
La conocía bien
*durative
I grasped why she did not want to get married
Comprendí por que no quería casarse
*initiative
I understood why she did not want to get married
Comprendía por qué no quería casarse
All of a sudden we heard a terrible crash
De repente oímos un ruido espantoso
*verbs of perception
I saw her leaving
Vi que se iba
*verbs of perception
At that moment I felt great compassion for the woman
En ese momento senti tremenda compasion por la mujer
*verbs of perception
Upon seeing her so fragile I had the feeling she was just a little girl
Al verla tan fragil tuve la sensacion de que era solo una nina
*verbs of perception
A feeling of well-being overcame him
Un sentimiento de bienestar inundo su ser
*verbs of perception
Upon hearing me talk, she became frightened
Al oirme hablar, se espanto
*verbs of state of being
When I told her, she became furious
Cuando se lo dije, se enfurecio
*verbs of state of being
A while later he calmed down
Al rato se tranquilizo.
*verbs of state of being
The minute he saw her, he fell in love
Ni bien la vio, se enamoro
*verbs of state of being
As soon as he went to bed, he fell asleep
Ni bien se acosto, se durmio
He became famous
Se hizo famoso
*verbs of state of being
God said: Let there be light and there was light
Dios dijo: Sea la luz y la luz fue
*initiative
From that day on she no longer was the same woman
Desde ese dia ya no fue la misma mujer
*initiative
Even though they had made amends, from that point on the relationship between them was different
Aunque se habian reconciliado, desde entonces la relacion entre ambos fue diferente
*initiative
Making him change his mind had been very dificult
Hacerle cambiar de opinion fue muy dificul
*terminative
Cardenas had been a school teacher before he was president
Cardenas fue un maestro de escuela antes de ser presidente
*terminative
Making him change his mind was very difficult
Hacerle cambiar de opinion era muy dificil
*durative
He was a school teacher
Era maestro de escuela
*durative
She was very beautiful as a young woman
Era muy guapa de joven
*durative
He fought for the emancipation of the oppressed for several years
Lucho por la emancipacion de los oprimidos por muchos anos
*impossible to extend in time
He was ill for several months
Estuvo enfermo varios meses
*impossible to extend in time
He said he was sick
Dijo que estaba enferma
*co-existence or subsequence
He said he had not been able to go
Dijo que no pudo (habia podido) ir
*anteriority relative to subordinate verb
He had wanted to go but could not
Quiso (habia querido) ir pero no pudo
He said he had had to study
Dijo que tuvo (habia tenido) que estudiar
While she was a student she earned her living as a waitress
Cuando era estudiante se ganaba la vida como camarera
‘*co-existence
When he wrote, he smoked a pipe
Cuando escribia, fumaba pipa
‘*co-existence
While she studied, she drank coffee to stay awake
Mientras estudiaba, tomaba cafe para mantenerse despierta
‘*co-existence
Even though he had been promoted, he still worked as hard as before
Aunque lo habian ascendido, trabajaba tanto como antes
*contrast between former and subsequent event
Once I got used to his voice, I could follow the lecture
Cuando me acostumbre a su voz, pude seguir la conferencia
Once he spoke to her calmly, she listened
Cuando le hablo calmadamente, lo escucho
What is she doing in the kitchen at this hour?
Que hace en la cocina a estas horas?
What was she doing in the kitchen at that hour?
Que hacia en la cocina a esas horas?
I see that he is coming alone
Veo que viene solo
I saw that he was coming alone
Vi que venia solo
I think that she is talking to someone
Creo que habla con alguien
I thought that she was talking to someone
Creia que hablaba con alguien
I call her every Monday
La llamo todos los lunes
I would call her every Monday
La llamaba todos los lunes
They dine at seven generally
Cenan a las siete generalmente
They would dine at seven generally
Cenaban a las siete generalmente
They do not get along
No se llevan bien
They did not get along
No se llevaban bien
One can see that he is sad
Se ve que esta triste
One could see that he was sad
Se veia que estaba triste
The political situation is disturbing
La situacion politica es inquietante
The political situation was disturbing
La situacion politica era inquietante
Peru embraces a large territorial expanse
El Peru abarca una gran extension territorial
Old Peru embraced a large territorial expanse
El Antiguo Peru abarcaba una gran extension territorial
They say they will leave tomorrow
Dicen que parten manana
They said they would leave tomorrow
Dijeron que partian manana
Maria will graduate next week
Maria se recibe la semana entrante
Maria would graduate the following week
Maria se recibia la semana siguiente
They will get engaged tomorrow
Se comprometen manana
They would get engaged the following day
Se comprometian al dia siguiente
He has known her for years
La conoce desde hace anos
He had known her for years
La conocia desde hacia anos
He has been working there since January
Trabaja alli desde enero
He had been working there since January
Trabajaba alli desde enero
They have been going together for a long time
Salen juntos desde hace tiempo
They had been going together for a long time
Salian juntos desde haia tiempo
I called her but she was not at home
La llame pero no estaba en casa
When I met her she was twenty years old
Cuando la conoci tenia veinte anos
As you were arriving he was leaving
Cuando tu llegabas el salia
He has not told me what I was expecting to hear
No me ha dicho lo que yo esperaba oir
Don’t you realize that you could be her father
No te das cuenta de que podias ser su padre
He knew you would do it
Sabia que tu lo harias
We saw his house which was located on a hill and had a magnificent view. Beatiful gardens surrounded it
Vimos su casa que estaba situada en una colina y tenia una vista magnifica. Hermosos jardines la rodeaban
Last year we would dine at seven
El ano pasado cenabamos a las siete
While he was speaking last night everyone listened with great interest
Cuando el hablaba anoche todos lo escuchaban con gran interes
In those days it was not fashionable to sunbathe
En aquellos tiempos no estaba de moda asolearse
In former times, marriage meant an indissoluble bond
Antes el matrimonio signifaba un lazo indisoluble
Whenever he would speak, everyone would tremble
Cuando el hablaba todos temblaban
England no longer is what she used to be
Inglaterra ya no es lo que era
He was slowly dying. His body was wasting away and his spirit was failing.
Se moria lentemente. Su cuerpo se consumia y su espiritu se enflaquecial.
His life was slipping away
La vida se le escapaba
When I arrived she was putting the child to bed
Cuando yo llegue ella acostaba al nino
As I was arriving yesterday he was leaving
Cuando yo llegaba ayer el partia
It was noon. He was pacing up and down without being able to restrain himself. It was understandable for his son was about to be born.
Era mediodia. Iba y venia de un lado para otro sin poder refrenarse. No era para menos, su hijo estaba a punto de nacer
The child was touching every object in the living room. His mother was in a state of frenzy and could hardly wait for the guests to leave.
El nino tocaba cuanto objeto habia en la sala. Su madre se deseperaba y no veia la hora de que se fueran las visitas.
The husband and wife were arguing last night. I could hear them from my room. At moments they seemed to calm down, but they would begin again a few minutes later.
Marido y mujer discutian anoche. Yo los oia desde mi cuarto. A ratos parecian calmarse pero a los pocos minutos volvian a comenzar.
The guests were arriving one after the other. The host was showing them in.
Los invitados llegaban unos tras otros. El anfitrion los hacia pasar.
He was very agitated that morning. He was smoking one cigarette after another and wringing his hands frantically.
Estaba agitadisimo esa manana. Fumaba un cigarillo detras de otro y se retorcia las manos freneticamente.
Every so often he would be late for work
Cada tanto llegaba tarde al trabajo
The stores closed at seven in the summer
Los negocios cerraban a las siete en verano
They went out together most of the time
Salian juntos casi siempre
The mailman used to arrive at noon
El cartero llegaba a mediodia
Generally he would receive us very cordially
Generalmente nos recibia con mucha cordialidad
When it was very hot they would open doors and windows, but never turn on the air-conditioning
Cuando hacia mucho calor abrian puertas y ventanas pero nunca prendian el aire acondicionado
He knew his subject matter better than anyone else
Sabia su materia como nadie
Yesterday he did not know a thing in class
Ayer no sabia nada en clase
He doubted everything and everyone
Dudaba de todo y de todos
Until recently he was unsure of her but now that is no longer the case
Hasta hace poco dudaba de ella pero ahora ya no
They were living in Madrid
Vivian en Madrid
Until last year they lived in Madrid
Hasta al ano pasado vivian en Madrid
When I walked in I realized that they were arguing
Al entrar me di cuenta que discutian
They used to argue very often
Discutian muy frecuentemente
The summer was very hot
El verano estaba calurosisimo
The day was very hot
El dia estaba muy caluroso
That week he was exhausted
Esa semana se encontraba agotado
He never lacked energies
Nunca le faltaban energias
Upon arriving to America, the Spaniards encountered diverse indigenous races which exhibited different levels of civilization
Al llegar los espanoles a America, se encontraron con diversas razas indigenas que tenian diversos niveles de civilizacion
When I saw the Caribbean I realized that its waters were magnificent
Al ver el mar Caribe me di cuenta que sus aguas eran magnificas
They had known each other since early childhood
Se conocian desde la infancia
She had been studying music for years
Estudiaba musica desde hacia anos
They had been spending the summers at the same resort for years
Veraneaban en el mismo lugar desde hacia anos
They had been very unhappy ever since they had moved
Estaban muy descontentos desde que se habian mudado
She had been very ill since last year
Estaba muy enferma desde el ano pasado
Copernicus has demonstrated that the earth revolves around the sun
Copernico demostro que la tierra giraba (gira) alrededor del sol
Fleming has discovered that penicillin is an effective agent against certain infections
Fleming descubrio que la penicilina era (es) un agente efectivo contra ciertas infecciones
I thought he was your friend
Yo creia que era (es) tu amigo
I didn’t he was here
No sabia que estaba (esta) aqui
I tried to forget who I was
Trate de olvidarme de quien era (soy)
I will leave tomorrow at three
Salgo manana a las tres
He said he would leave tomorrow at three
Dijo que salia manana a las tres
He will return next week
Regresa la semana proxima
They announced that he would return next week
Anunciaron que regresaba la semana proxima
He wants to see her tomorrow afternoon
Quiere verla manana por la tarde
He said that he wanted to see her tomorrow afternoon
Dijo que queria verla manana por la tarde
I want to go but I cannot
Quiero ir pero no puedo
He explained that he wanted to go but couldn’t
Explico que queria ir pero no podia
I hope to be able to attend the lecture
Espero poder asistir a la conferencia
He replied that he hoped to be able to attend the lecture
Me contesto que esperaba poder asistir a la conferencia
I did not know that they WERE arriving today
No sabia que llegaban hoy
I did not know that they ARE arriving today
No sabia que llegan hoy
I did not know that they WILL arrive today
No sabia que van a llegar hoy
