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Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?

Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?

millie_dillmount Profile Photo
millie_dillmount
#0Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:18am

I have to use the "imperfecto del subjuntivo" in a sentence. I am using it in a "Si" (if) clause. For example:

Si yo estuviera ahora en Costa Rica hablaría español.
(If I lived in Costa Rica, I would speak Spanish).

My question: do both verbs in the sentence have to be in "yo" form? Or is it possible to write a sentence like this:

Si no estudiaras cada noche, la clase estaría muy difícil.
(If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult).

Is the second sentence incorrect grammar? Would it be the class "will be" difficult, therefore making you use the future tense?


"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611

BroadwayChica Profile Photo
BroadwayChica
#1re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:23am

The second sentence is fine, except it should be:

Si no estudiaras cada noche, la clase sería muy difícil.

But what you're saying is: "If you didn't study every night, the class would be very difficult"

If you want to say "If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult"

it would be something like: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase sera dificil."

I'm a native Spanish speaker. I know jack **** about grammatical rules. Just going by what "sounds" right in my own language.

DayDreamer Profile Photo
DayDreamer
#2re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:25am

ditto chica... my head started spinning when I read the subjuntivo something or other...

Yo soy de Costa Rica. re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?


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Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted. - Randy Pausch

duroc
#3re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:33am

I took some spanish in school and I don't see why both verbs would 'have' to be in the yo form. I don't think there's a gramatical rule for continuing one verb form.

BroadwayChica Profile Photo
BroadwayChica
#4re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:36am

Hey DayDreamer! Mucho gusto. De Puerto Rico :)

BSoBW2
#5re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:38am

If you want to say "If you do not study each night, the class would be difficult"

it would be something like: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase sera dificil."


I think it would be more "...the class WILL be difficult."

Anyway, there is no rule the verbs have to be the same. It's based on the subject of the verb.

BroadwayChica Profile Photo
BroadwayChica
#6re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:50am

The problem is that to say "If you don't study every night, the class would be difficult" sounds REALLY awkward: "Si no estudias todas las noches, la clase seria dificil"

It just sounds wrong. So "La clase sera dificil" is a better choice.

Word

BluCat500 Profile Photo
BluCat500
#7re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:16am

I think the first clause needs to be past tense to use the conditional afterwards...

If you didn't study every night, the class would be difficult.

si no estudiabas cada noche, la clase seria dificil.

Sounds much less awkward.


So I was sitting in my cubicle today, and I realized, ever since I started working, every single day of my life has been worse than the day before it. So that means that every single day that you see me, that's on the worst day of my life.~Office Space
Updated On: 4/27/06 at 01:16 AM

BSoBW2
#8re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:39am

The rule is, with "Si" clauses:

Si + past subjunctive, ....conditional.

Si + present imperfective, .....future.

I think that's right.

Rose_MacShane Profile Photo
Rose_MacShane
#9re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 1:46am

Wow. I took Spanish for three and a half years and I can't put together a sentence more complicated than "Me llamo Maris. Me gusta el teatro y mis gatos."


http://community.livejournal.com/ltd_brands_suck/

paradox_error Profile Photo
paradox_error
#10re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 2:20am

Ouch Rose! I've been studying Spanish 7 weeks and I can say that!

Roninjoey Profile Photo
Roninjoey
#11re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 2:31am

My comprehension is loads better than my speaking skills. I would like to spend some time in a spanish speaking country.


yr ronin,
joey

Dancinqueen123 Profile Photo
Dancinqueen123
#12re: Any Spanish Speakers Here...Please?
Posted: 4/27/06 at 12:10pm

It's sad that I'm learning the same thing as Millie and I have no idea what she's talking about. I only knew because of the Si (if) clause part.


<--Sometimes it's easier to get out of a jam than into one


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