Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.) — Edition Insights

Carthagenians were a commercial and enterprising people.

El estaba alli cuando yo llegue: He was there when I arrived.

El leia al entrar yo en el bufete del abogado: He was reading when I entered the lawyer's office.

En Inglaterra trabajaba[151] ocho horas cada dia: In England I worked (used to work) eight hours a day.

[Footnote 151: As will be seen, the English "was" followed by a pres. part. or the expression "used to be" may always be rendered by the Spanish Imperfect, but the Spanish progressive form also exists: "Estaba leyendo" (he was reading), and "used to" has its equivalent "solia":--"Solia trabajar 8 horas" (he used to work 8 hours).]

Cada mes recibiamos nuestro sueldo: Each month we received (used to receive) our pay.

Ayer cerre el contrato: Yesterday I signed the contract.

Las pipas de vino resultaron averiadas: The casks of wine were damaged.

Trabaje en Inglaterra 5 anos[152]; Vivi dos anos en Londres y tres en Manchester: I worked 5 years in England; I lived two years in London and three in Manchester.

[Footnote 152: This _is_ "a period of time," but it is _definite_.]

As will be seen in all the examples of the Imperfect, the action or state is described as "existing in the past."

=abarrotado=, glutted, cram full =acorazado=, iron-clad =ajo=, garlic =alerta=, on the alert, on the look out =brisa=, breeze =cebollas=, onions =conducta=, conduct, behaviour =contrabando=, contraband =cosecha=, harvest, harvest-time, crop *=dar en el clavo=, to hit it =datiles=, dates =encogido=, shrivelled, shrunk =fruta=, fruit =granadas=, pomegranates =guardias aduaneras=, custom house officials =higos=, figs =inmaturo=, verde, unripe =limones=, lemons =llevar=, to carry, to wear =matute=, smuggling =mirar=, to look =moscatel=, muscatel grapes =naranja=, orange i=ojo=! attention! =olvidar=, to forget =pasas de Corinto=, currants =podrido=, rotten =por decirlo asi=, so to say, as it were *=querer decir=, to mean =recobrar=, to recover =reprensible=, objectionable =resumir=, to recapitulate, to state briefly =sinnumero=, a large number, innumerable =travesia=, journey by sea

Translate into English--

1. Cuando yo era mas joven y me gustaba viajar, hacia la travesia de Liverpool a Las Palmas todos los anos.

2. Estuve alli la ultima vez en 1905 principalmente para recobrar mi salud, pero como viaje de negocios tambien tuvo muy buen exito.

3. No habia entonces como la hay hoy en dia tanta competencia en ese comercio.

4. Cuando llego el buque a La Coruna habia un sinnumero de guardias aduaneras alerta, pues se decia que llevaba muchos generos de contrabando.

5. ?Que quiere decir genero de matute?

6. De matute es lo mismo que de contrabando y matutero o contrabandista es el que introduce tales generos.

7. No sabia esta palabra antes, pero ya no la olvidare.

8. ?Ha aprendido V. bien la diferencia entre el preterito y el imperfecto?

9. Perfectamente y voy a resumirsela en dos palabras--El uno es pasado, pasado y nada mas, el otro es un presente de lo pasado por decirlo asi; imire V.! "Encontre a Carlos": pasado absoluto; "Llevaba sombrero blanco"; pasado _hoy_, presente _entonces_; ?que le parece a V.?

10. Me parece que V. ha dado en el clavo y estoy satisfecho.

11. Y ahora iojo! en la aplicacion y ino olvidar!

Translate into Spanish--

1. I believe his behaviour is most (muy) objectionable.

3. Did you receive the B/L for the cargo (cargamento) of oranges and grapes from Seville?

4. I did; and I expect a good parcel (partida) of muscatels from Valencia as well.

5. Are these the lemons, onions and pomegranates you were expecting?

7. I am sorry they were delayed so long because now the market is glutted with fruit.

8. He is my friend and I am his.

9. We received this year three cargoes of bananas from the Canary Islands (Islas Canarias). Six were consigned to us last year, but we used to receive many more when we sent our traveller in those islands at harvest time.

10. Ten thousand boxes of currants, 3,000 of figs, and 4,561 of dates were sold by auction.

11. There had not been such large quantities offered for a long time (hacia mucho tiempo que).

12. The iron-clad "Achilles" left yesterday for Vigo. The sea was perfectly calm although a light breeze blew, _or_ was blowing (soplaba _not_ estaba soplando), from the S.W. (sudoeste).

13. The commission-agent (comisionista) went by the three o'clock train.

14. When I went to say good-bye to him (para despedirme de 61) he was writing (escribia _or_ estaba escribiendo) a letter.

15. The cargo was examined and it was found that some of the fruit was unripe, some shrivelled or frost-bitten (tomada por la escarcha), and a parcel of garlic was rotten and had to be destroyed.

LESSON XXVI. (Leccion vigesima sexta.)

THE TENSES (_contd._).

Uses of the Past Definite (or Preterite) and the Present Perfect (as: Yo he comprado: I have bought).

According to the English rule, the Past Def. (or Preterite) should be used to narrate events which happened in the past, in a period of time which does not include the present moment as--

Yo lo compre el ano pasado: I bought it last year.

The Present Perfect (called in Spanish Preterito Compuesto) should be used when the period of time includes the present moment, as--

He fletado muchos buques: I have chartered many ships.

By following this rule students will always be correct, but we must notice that in Spanish we find the "Preterito compuesto" often used instead of the Past Definite--

1. When the period, although entirely past, is not defined, as--

Le ha facturado la quincalla: He invoiced him the smallware.

2. When although entirely past and definite, it is very recent, as--Se lo he dicho hace un momento: I told him a moment ago.

N.B.--Plegue a Dios que el ano que hoy empieza sea mas feliz que lo ha sido el pasado: May it please God that the year which commences to-day may be happier than the last has been (Grammar of the Academy).[153]

[Footnote 153: Here the Present Perfect is used in both languages, because _the effects reach up to the present moment_.]

The English Compound Past--"I had spoken"--is rendered by "yo habia hablado" or "yo hube hablado."

"Yo habia hablado" is in general use.

"Yo hube hablado" is used only after _cuando, luego que, inmediatamente que_; viz., when the action is represented as _immediately_ preceding another.

N.B.--The Past Def. Simple may always take its place.

Cuando hube declarado mis intenciones, Cuando declare mis intenciones, se convencio--When I declared my intentions, he was convinced.

The =Future Indicative=, (as well as the =Conditional Mood=) are used in Spanish oftener than in English to denote probability, as--

Habra 20 hombres aqui: I dare say there are 20 men here.

?Le habre dado este derecho? Have I, perchance, given him this right?

?Tendria miedo talvez? Was he afraid, perhaps?

The =Future Progressive=, is not used in Spanish when its place may be taken by the ordinary Future Simple, as--

Le escribire manana: I shall be writing him to-morrow.

Cuando el venga yo estare escribiendo: When he comes I shall be writing.

The =Present Subjunctive= in Spanish refers to time present or future; for time future, its place may be taken by the future Subj. (little used).[154]

[Footnote 154: Except after "cuando" (but not in conversation), as--Se lo dire cuando venga _or_ cuando viniere: I shall tell it him when he comes. The Fut. Subj. is also used (not in conversation) after _si_ instead of Pres. Indic., as--Le servire si la ocasion se ofrece _or_ se ofreciere: I shall serve him if the occasion presents itself.]

=Use of Tenses of the Subjunctive Mood=.

The verb in the Subj. Mood is put in the Present tense when the preceding verb is in the Pres. Indic., Future Indic. (simple) or Imperative, as--

Quiero que el lo haga: I want him to do it. Querre " " ": I shall want " "" Quiere tu " " ": Want (thou) " ""

Otherwise the verb in the Subjunctive is in the Imperfect tense.

N.B.--When the preceding verb is in the "preterito compuesto," e.g., "he dicho," when "he dicho" stands exactly for the English "I have told," it governs the Pres. Subj., as--

Le he dicho que se vaya: I have told him to go.

But if it stands for the English "I told," it governs the Imperfect Subj., as

Le dije (he dicho) que se fuese: I told him to go.

When the preceding verb is in the Future Perfect, the verb in the Subjunctive may be put in the Present when its action does not refer to the past, as--

Habre querido que trabaje hoy o manana: I shall have (may have) wanted him to work to-day or to-morrow.

=*adquirir=, to acquire =alquilar=, to rent, to hire, to take or give on lease =arado=, plough =boni cacion, rebaja=, allowance =cargar=, to charge =ceder=, to yield, to sell, to cede, to warrant make over =cedula de aduana=, custom house =colmo=, climax, record =color firme, solido=, fast colour =contrarrestar=, to check =de otra manera=, otherwise =desarrollar=, to develop =emprestito=, loan =epoca=, epoch, period, time =explotar=, to exploit, to work =igualar, hermanar=, to match =*invertir=, to invest (money) =justificar=, to justify, to warrant =material rodante=, rolling stock (railway) =no bien=, as soon a | =pana (acordonada)=, cords (corduroy) =perspectivas=, prospects =piezas de repuesto=, spare pieces (machinery) =puros, cigarros, tabacos=, cigars =quinta=, villa =rastrillos=, harrows =rechazar=, to reject =reja=, ploughshare =revocar=, contramandar, to countermand *=tener cuenta=, to pay, viz., to be advantageous =terreno=, land =traspaso=, goodwill =trilladora=, threshing-machine

Translate into English--

1. Le he dado ayer las Cedulas de Aduana.

2. Le hemos cedido el traspaso de aquel negocio por L500.

3. Le he dicho que los fondos (stocks), obligaciones, u otros valores cualesquiera (whatsoever) han de depositarse en manos seguras.

4. Yo le habia explicado que la Compania se habia constituido para comprar, alquilar (take on lease) o adquirir de otra manera y explotar y desarrollar cualesquier minas o terrenos metaliferos; pero no bien le hube anunciado (_or_ le anuncie) que se trataba de terrenos situados en el Asia Menor, se rehuso a tomar las acciones que le habia ofrecido.

5. Es que tendria sus razones.

6. Habia unos cincuenta puros en aquella caja.

7. Deseo que V. invierta su dinero en esta empresa como deseaba el ano pasado que V. lo invirtiese en el Emprestito del Gobierno Austriaco (Austrian).

8. Le dire que se apresure a despachar los arados con sus rejas y piezas de repuesto, los rastrillos, y las trilladoras.

9. Tal vez mi socio le habra dicho que lo haga.

10. Si, le ha escrito ayer que no retardase el embarque pues hacen mucha falta, hemos excedido la epoca fijada para la entrega y no nos tendria cuenta que la Sociedad Agricola nos los rechazara.

Translate into Spanish--

1. We wrote them nothing to warrant such action.

2. I warranted him (garantizar) this would not be repeated.

3. The cloth was warranted fast colour.

4. He resorted to extreme means in order to bring about (llegar a) a solution of the difficulty.

5. In the past year the climax of prosperity was reached.

6. Large orders for railway rolling stock were countermanded on account of (a causa de) the feared political complications.

7. Velvet and Cord manufacturers have curtailed their production with a view (a fin de) to check the downward (a la baja) tendency of prices.

8. I matched his sample and I secured the order.

9. Did you hear from your traveller lately?

10. They charged us too much, we can buy on spot (en el mercado) much cheaper.

11. Spot cotton (el algodon disponible) was quoted yesterday one point higher than the day before, but futures declined (bajaron) 3/32

12. Perhaps there are better prospects of the growing crop (nueva cosecha) at present.

13. Do not be long (no tarde V.) in making up your mind (decidirse de) one way or the other.

14. No, I shall soon decide what to do, but I must have a little time for reflection. I cannot bind myself on the spot (al punto).

15. Some of the prints have grease spots (manchas de aceite) and we must refuse to accept them unless under (a menos que nos haga) a reasonable allowance.

16. He has a villa in a delightful spot (sitio) in the country (campo).

LESSON XXVII. (Leccion vigesima septima.)

_Tener_ and _haber_ are used for the English "to have," followed by an infinitive, as--

Tienen que acabar el trabajo para fines de Enero: They have to finish the work for the end of January.

Hemos de seguir los consejos de los peritos en la materia: We have to follow the advice of those expert in the matter.

In such cases _Tener_ is followed by _que_ and _Haber_ by _de_.[155] The former indicates compulsion or necessity, the latter a moral or self-imposed duty.

_Haber de_ translates also "to be to,"[155] as--

?Quien ha de hacer este viaje? Who is to go on this journey?

_Tener de_ is used in threats--

Tengo de llevarlo ante el tribunal: I shall take him before the court.

"Tener que hacer, que escribir, que comer" and similar expressions translate also "to have something to do, to write, to eat," as--

Hoy tengo que hacer: To-day I have something to do, I am busy.

Tengo mucho que hacer: I have much to do.

Tenemos que comer por todo el dia: We have something to eat which will suffice for the whole day.

_Haber_ is used as a principal verb instead of _Tener_ in--

Haber menester de algo: To need something.

He aqui el muchacho, etc.[156]: Here is the boy (behold the boy here, etc.).

Heme aqui _or_ heteme[157] aqui, etc.: Here I am (behold me here, etc.).

It also survives in some legal phrases, as--

Fue habido el reo: The culprit was captured.

Los hijos habidos en su primera mujer: The children by his first wife.

And in some idioms, as--

Alla se las haya: That is his business.

Haberselas con uno: To dispute with anybody.

_Tener_ translates the English "to be" in such phrases as--

Tener hambre, sed, sueno, calor, frio, vergueenza, and miedo: To be hungry, thirsty, sleepy, warm, cold, ashamed, and afraid.

Also speaking of age--

Tengo veinte anos: I am twenty years old.

[Footnote 155: In all these cases _deber_ may be used instead.]

[Footnote 156: _He_--imperative mood of _haber_.]

[Footnote 157: The _te_ is the "ethical dative" (which is much more used in Spanish than in English).]

Tener razon: To be right.

No tener razon _or_ Dejar de tener razon: To be wrong.

We said that the past participle when used with _Tener_ agrees with the direct object, as--

Tengo leidas las cartas: I have read the letters.

But when there is no direct object, of course the past participle remains invariable, as--

Tengo entendido que....[158]: I have heard that....

[Footnote 158: This use of _tener_ for _haber_, especially with no direct obj. following is in general to be avoided; in this example, however, "tengo entendido," the phrase has more force than "he entendido." It implies that the mind is full with the effect of the communication.]

+------------------------------------------------------------------+ | =Conocer= (to know)[159] | | (changes _c_ into =zc= before _a_ or _o_). | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ |_Pres. Indic._, conozco. | |_Pres. Subj._, conozca-as-a-amos-ais-an. | +------------------------------------------------------------------+ | =Hacer= (to do or make). | +--------------------+---------------------------------------------+ |_Past Part._, |Hecho. | |_Pres. Indic._,|Hago. | |_Past Def._, |Hice, hiciste, hizo, hicimos, hicisteis, hicieron.| |_Fut. Indic._, |Hare, haras, hara, haremos, hareis, haran. | |_Imp. Mood_, |Haz, haced (_reg._). | +--------------------+---------------------------------------------+

[Footnote 159: Model verb for all those ending in _cer_ or _cir_ preceded by a vowel, except _cocer_ (conj. like _mover_), _mecer_ (_reg._) and _hacer_. (Those ending in _ducir_ are further irreg. in the Past Definite.)

=abrigar=, to shelter, to nourish (the hope) =acciones preferentes=, preference shares =agudo=, sharp, keen =aplazar=, to postpone =asistir=, to assist, to attend =atendible=, plausible =atrasado=, overdue =caldos=, wines and oils (collectively) =consabido=, in question, aforesaid =cuenta de venta=, account sale =dedicarse=, to devote oneself =dejar sin efecto=, to cancel =delicado de salud=, in indifferent health =desfavorable, contrario=, unfavourable, adverse =*deshacerse de=, to part with =domicilio=, registered office of a company, also residence =en este momento=, at the present moment =ensayo=, trial, venture =equidad=, fair dealing =*haber menester=, to need =indemnizacion=, indemnity =junta de acreedores=, meeting of creditors =liquidar=, to liquidate, to settle, to clear off goods, etc. =medieria, articulos de punto=, hosiery =pagare=, promissory note, note of hand =palacio=, palace =plazo=, term =respiro=, breath, breathing time, days of grace for payment, delay =retirar=, to withdraw (los) =reunidos=, those present =*tener en cuenta=, to take into consideration =trabajar, *ir, a porfia=, to vie with each other =tramites de la ley=, legal means =viaje de ida=, outward voyage =viaje de vuelta=, inward voyage

Translate into English--

1. Tengo que hacer hoy y no podre dedicarme a la correspondencia.

2. Si V. no quiere liquidar el consabido asunto tendre de apelar a los tramites de la ley.

3. V. no habra menester de tanto pues abrigo las mejores intenciones y lo que pido es solo unas pocas semanas de respiro.

4. He aqui pues lo que se ha de hacer, V. me firmara un pagare para fin de Febrero y queda entendido que no concedere despues ninguna extension del plazo.

5. Si entonces V. no satisface su deuda mi abogado dara los pasos necesarios y V. sera responsable de (liable for) los gastos y perjuicios habidos y por haber (damages accrued and to accrue).

6. La Compania Nacional de Transportes (carriage) ha instalado su domicilio en el nuevo Palacio de la Libertad.

7. Dicha Sociedad tiene un capital de un millon de pesetas; la mitad en acciones preferentes y la mitad en ordinarias.

8. Se ha verificado la junta de acreedores del Sr.... a la cual no asistio el principal interesado por encontrarse delicado de salud.

9. Los reunidos han decidido aplazar dicha junta hasta el 20 del corriente.

10. Fundandose en atendibles razones nuestro corresponsal deja sin efecto el pedido que nos habia confiado.

Translate into Spanish--

1. We shall have to take in the hosiery although it is slightly (un poquito) overdue.

2. We have to give the example of fair dealing ourselves.

3. Who is to decide on the subject of the indemnity due to the captain of the ship?

4. If we want to withdraw the goods without producing (presentar) a B/L. we shall have to sign an indemnity (indemnidad).

5. We have received the account sale for our wines and oils and regret the venture has not turned out as well as we expected.

6. We found a great difficulty in parting with our surplus (excesivas) stock, of which we had to dispose (disponer) at prices very much reduced.

7. We are unable to inform you to what extent (hasta que punto) you may calculate on (contar con) our remittance, as much will depend on circumstances over which we have no control (independientes de nuestra voluntad).

8. The rate (el tipo) of the insurance premium is 6/-per cent. on the outward and 5/-per cent. on the homeward voyage.

9. I very much question the advisability (dudo mucho la ventaja) of putting prices up at the present moment when so many adverse circumstances have to be taken into consideration.

10. As a matter of fact (en efecto) most of us (la mayor parte de nosotros) think it would be better to reduce them somewhat (algo) now that competition is so keen.

11. They vie with each other in cutting prices down (reducir) with the result that profits are ridiculously low (irrisorios).

LESSON XXVIII. (Leccion vigesima octava.)

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

The following are the principal Spanish adverbs--

Abajo (below) Ademas (besides) Adelante, delante (before, in point of place) Ahora (now) *Alrededor, *entorno (around) Amenudo, a menudo (often) *Antes (before, in point of time) Antes, antes bien (rather) Anoche (last night) Anteanoche (the night before last) Apenas, asi que (as soon as) Aqui, aca (here, hither) Alli, alla (there, thither) De aqui, de alli (hence, thence) Aun, todavia (still, yet) Ayer (yesterday) Anteayer (the day before yesterday) Bastante (sufficiently) Bien (well) *Cerca (near) *Debajo (under) *Por debajo (underneath) Demasiado (too, too much) *Dentro (within) *Despues (after, afterwards) *Detras (behind) Donde[160] (where) En breve (shortly) *Encima (upon, above) *Enfrente (opposite) Entonces (then) *Fuera (outside) Hacia (towards) Hacia adelante (forwards) Hacia abajo (downwards) Hasta (till, until) Hoy (to-day) *Junto (next) *Lejos (far) Luego (presently, soon, then) Manana (to-morrow) Mal (badly) Mas (more) Mejor (better) Menos (less) Mientras (whilst) Mientras tanto (in the meantime) Mucho (much) Muy[161] (very) Nunca, jamas (never) Ni ... ni ... (neither ... nor ...) Ni tampoco (not either) Peor (worse) Pronto (soon) Tal vez, acaso, quiza, quizas (perhaps) Tan, asi (so) Tanto (so much) Tarde (late) Temprano (early) Ya[162] (already)

[Footnote 160: After verbs of motion also "a donde." After verbs of rest also "en donde."]

[Footnote 161: Used as in English, but always _muy_ before a past part., as: Muy apreciado (much esteemed). Such phrases as "He is rich but not very" are translated "Es rico pero no mucho _or_ tanto."]

[Footnote 162: _Ya_ is also used for "now." "Ya no"--no longer.]

Those marked with an asterisk may govern a noun or pronoun through the preposition _de_ with the exception of _junto_, which governs these words through _a_.

Adverbs may be formed from adjectives as in English.

The English termination _ly_ is rendered by =mente= _added to the feminine form_ of the adjective, when this changes for the feminine.