Читать книгу Spanish Composition - Edith J. Broomhall - Страница 9

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Mientras uno es joven, siempre hay esperanza de mejorar la fortuna.[5]—PALACIO VALDÉS.

12. English long is usually rendered largo, but in expressions of time it is often translated mucho.

This is the longest street in the city. We lived here for a long time.

Esta es la calle más larga de la ciudad. Vivimos aquí por mucho tiempo.

I have not seen them for a long time.

No los he visto desde hace mucho tiempo.

Note.—When a phrase expressing duration of time introduced by for is equivalent to since ... ago, for is translated desde hace.

(a) The phrase to be long (in), followed by a verbal in -ing, expressed or understood, is rendered tardar (en), followed by an infinitive expressed or understood.

Have patience! You will not be long in learning how to do it.

¡Ten paciencia! No tardarás en aprender a hacerlo.

You go now. I will follow.—All right, but don't be long.

Vete ahora. Yo te seguiré.—Bueno, pero no tardes.

—PÉREZ GALDÓS.

(b) Tardar en may also be used to translate the expression before long.

They will be back before long.

No tardarán en volver.

(c) The adverbial phrases no longer, any longer are translated ya no.

I wonder why they are so long. I can't wait any longer.

¿Por qué tardarán tanto? Ya no puedo esperar más.

(d) The conjunctive phrase as long as is rendered mientras.

As long as it was raining we could not go out.

Mientras llovía no podíamos salir.

13. The word before as an adverb is rendered antes; as a conjunction, antes que; as a preposition of time, antes de; as a preposition of place, it is rendered delante de or ante, the latter being used especially with the meaning of in the presence of.

I had never done that before.

No había hecho eso antes.

Before he went away he said that he would be back before long.

Antes que se fué me dijo que no tardaría en volver.

Before taking it you ought to have spoken to me.

Antes de cogerla debió usted hablar conmigo.

—PÉREZ GALDÓS.

He wanted to appear before them as a millionaire.

Quería presentarse delante de ellos como millonario.

—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.

They look at the gypsy who stops before them.

Miran al húngaro que se para ante ellos.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.

Note.—Antes also translates English formerly.

14. The verb to know, meaning to be acquainted with, is conocer; otherwise to know and to know how are rendered saber.

I know the family, but I don't know where they live.

Conozco a la familia, pero no sé donde viven.

I know how to sew, I know how to cook, I know how to wash clothes.

Yo sé coser, yo sé guisar, yo sé lavar la ropa.—LOS QUINTERO.

Note.—Conocer also translates English to make the acquaintance of.

15. EXERCISES

(a) 1. No sé como he vivido tanto tiempo con ellos. 2. ¡Bien ha tardado Vd. esta noche! 3. ¿Cuánto tiempo espera Vd. pasar aquí? 4. Dígales que yo quiero verlas antes que salgan. 5. No sé leer el español pero conozco las obras de Benavente en traducción. 6. No tardamos en saber lo que había hecho. 7. Antes de escribir los ejercicios tenemos que estudiar las reglas. 8. Antes era rico, ya no lo es. 9. En el abecedario viene la a ante la be. 10. Puesto que no puedo quedarme más tiempo, tendrá Vd. que acabarlo solo.

(b) 1. Do you know the works of Blasco Ibáñez? 2. How long have you been here? 3. I don't know how to describe it to you. 4. I don't know how long he has been ill. 5. Before I speak I want to know how much you know. 6. Do you know this song? Yes, but I don't know how to sing it. 7. Before buying the house he told me that he had known the owner for a long time. 8. Ask him if he knows who has lived in it since. 9. I knew him before he went to live there. 10. I'm sure I shall see him before long.