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

Chapter 11

Chapter 113,697 wordsPublic domain

5. La Sociedad reúne poderosos elementos (commands great resources) para la fabricación de toda clase de maquinaria para la hiladura y la tejeduría del algodón.

6. Los bultos se embarcaron directamente por los fabricantes mismos.

7. El empaque y el transporte cuestan lo mismo y precio por precio preferimos ahorrarnos molestias.

8. Por un falso sentido de honor aquella casa forzó su crédito para no tener que pedir moratorias, dando esto por resultado el empeoramiento de su posición.

9. Compré un automóvil por £1,000 mas lo troqué con este que vale á la verdad £1,500 dando sólo £200 por la diferencia.

10. Disponga V. las piezas tantas por parte.

11. Á una veintena por vez colocámos aquellos picos, palas, azadas, azadones, hachuelas, azuelas, martillos, cizallas, y tenazas.

12. Se presentó por su yerno, abogó por él por una hora larga de talle, todo por su hija, pues por el chico (young man, lit., child) maldita la gana que tendría (he would not have liked the idea) de afanarse tanto por él.

13. Haré por colocar sus driles blancos, plomo, y amarillos (buff) para los cuales me dió orden verbal su Sr. hijo durante su estancia aquí y que se despacharán por (_or_ por la vía de) Burdeos y Cartagena.

14. Nuestro mercado sigue muy encalmado sin que por el momento presente síntomas de mejora.

15. La primera carta está para echarse al correo pero la segunda y la tercera quedan aun por escribir.

EXERCISE 2 (58).

Translate into Spanish--

1. He offers a loan to avoid all risk that the house should fall.

2. It would not be possible for it to fall unless the Textile Bank should stop payments.

3. His office is opposite ours and we have him thus under our eyes.

4. With all the weight of the evidence (las pruebas) you have collected (recogido), it would be very risky to proceed against him from such a distance.

5. Between one thing and the other I did not know what to choose, so I left them to settle the matter between themselves.

6. These sketches have been made by our draughtsman for our customers, the owners of the Sugar Mill in Parahyba.

7. He did the work for the pleasure of it but would not (no quiso) charge a farthing for it.

8. The packets arrived two by two.

9. I accede willingly for the sake of old friendship (por la antigua amistad que nos une).

10. As the time of the year is drawing near when your firms effect their purchases in this country, we beg to address you to renew the offer of our services.

11. We shall be extremely glad if you will avail yourselves of our offers and send us orders for some of your requirements.

12. The adjustment of the average per S.S. "Nile" is still hanging fire (todavía pendiente), but we are pushing the Insurance Co. to our utmost (todo lo posible) for a speedy settlement.

13. For a (para) foreigner he understands English methods very well indeed.

14. Being (por ser) so young he shows a good deal of (mucho) tact and foresight.

LESSON XXX. (Lección trigésima.)

THE CONJUNCTIONS AND INTERJECTIONS.

Conjunctions join sentences together; also independent words.

The principal conjunctions are--

*Á menos que (unless) Á pesar de (in spite of) Así como (just as) Así que, de suerte que (so that) *Afín de que, *Para que (that--in order that) Aunque, bien que, si bien (although, even if) *Bien ... bien (whether ... or) Como (as) *Con tal que (provided) Con que (so) *Cuando (if) Mas, pero, empero[166] (but) Sino (but--after a negative[167]) Ni ... ni (neither ... nor) No sea que* (lest, also perhaps) No obstante (nevertheless) Ó ... ó[168] (either ... or) Ora ... ora[168] (now ... now--with indic. mood) Porqué, porque (why, because) Portanto (therefore) Puesto que[169] (seeing that) Pues (since) Que (that) Si (if, whether) Sin embargo (however, notwithstanding) Según (according) Siquiera (at least, even) Y[170] (and) Ya ... ya[171] (whether ... or--with subj. mood) Ya que (since, seeing that)

[Footnote 166: _Empero_ is used same as _pero_ at the beginning of a sentence.]

[Footnote 167: Unless a _finite_ verb follows, as: No tengo dinero pero gozo de buena reputación (I have no money but I enjoy a good reputation).]

[Footnote 168: Before words commencing with _o_ or _ho_, it changes into _ú_.]

[Footnote 169: In old Spanish it had the meaning of "even if."]

[Footnote 170: Before words commencing with _i_, also _hi_ not followed by a vowel, use _é_, as: "Padre é hijo," but "Nieve y hielo."]

[Footnote 171: "Ora ... ora" and "ya ... ya" both mean "now ... now" (with indic. mood), and "whether ... or" (with subj. mood).]

The conjunctions marked with an asterisk are always followed by a verb in the Subjunctive Mood.

The English "either" is generally left understood, as--

Exportaciones ó importaciones: Either exports or imports.

"Either" following a negative--_tampoco_, as--

No quiero comprar Títulos de Gobierno ni Obligaciones de Ferrocarriles tampoco: I do not wish to buy Government Stock, nor Railway Stocks either.

=Interjections=, being mere exclamations, do not stand in grammatical relation to any other word in the sentence.

They are elliptical sentences, as--

¡Oh! (I am surprised, etc.).

The principal Interjections in Spanish are the following--

caramba, cáspita (these express practically all kinds of emotions) ay[172] (oh! grief or threat) bah, ca, quiá (humph!) ce, hola, ola (I say!) chito, chitón (shut up!) cuidado, ¡ojo! (attention! look out!) ea (come!) he (hey) húy (oh! physical pain) ojalá (oh, that) por Dios (for heaven's sake) tate, zape (what! (surprise)) tonterías (nonsense!) uf (oh! weariness or fatigue)

[Footnote 172: This can govern a noun or pronoun, as--¡Ay de mí! Woe to me! ¡Ay de Pedro! Woe to Peter!]

As well as _Ah_ or _Ha_, _Oh_ or _O_ as in English, and many words used as exclamations, as--

¡Silencio! ¡calle! ¡calle la boca (silence! hush! shut your mouth!) ¡vamos! (much used), (come! come now!) ¡que lástima! (what a pity!) ¡poco á poco! (gently, Sir!) ¡héteme[173] aquí! (here I am!) ¡hételos[173] aquí! (here they are, etc.)

[Footnote 173: _Te_--ethical dative.]

VOCABULARY.

=aficionado (á)=, fond of =aflojar=, to relax =ansioso=, eager =*apetecer=, to desire, to covet =bastante bien=, fairly well =berzas, coles= (f.), cabbages =buscar=, to look for, to search =buscarse=, to bring upon oneself =cauteloso, cauto=, cautious =conexiones=, connections, couplings (machinery) =contrincante=, neighbour, competitor =detenidamente=, fully =disturbado, transtornado=, disturbed, upset =engranajes=, gearings =escala=, scale =hortelano=, fruit gardener =inquilino=, tenant =ir á=, to lead to =llantas=, tyres =*moler=, to grind =operaciones=, operations, dealings =perro=, dog =plaza=, market place, square, place =*poner al corriente=, to inform =refrán=, proverb =repentino=, sudden =resortes=, springs (mach.) =sosa=, soda =tambores=, drums =traspapelado=, mislaid (of papers)

EXERCISE 1 (59).

Translate into English--

1. Á menos que los giros vengan acompañados de los conocimientos y facturas comerciales y consulares (invoices and consular invoices) no los recogeremos.

2. Le remito poder en forma (regular power of attorney) para que V. pueda representarme y hacer mis veces ahí.

3. Cuando me pague lo que me debe veremos lo que proceda hacer (what ought to be done).

4. V. no hace mención en su atenta de los engranajes, conexiones, llantas y resortes de nuestro pedido 2 del que rige, no sea que se haya traspapelado nuestra orden.

5. Para comprar barato no hay sino que pagar puntualmente sus facturas.

6. Aunque es hombre muy difícil de tratar, sus órdenes son muy apetecidas de los fabricantes porque su palabra una vez empenada (pledged) es oro molido (as good as gold).

7. Aunque me pagara más no se lo daría pues ya tengo empeñada mi palabra.

8. Así como le vió le puso al corriente de las circunstancias.

9. Con tal que el mercado afloje un tantico procuraré plazar su orden para 50 tambores de sosa, á su límite.

10. Con que nuestros contrincantes se porten con lealtad no tenemos derecho de quejarnos de su competencia.

11. Según lo prueba la experiencia más vale ir cautelosos en aquellos mercados.

12. No deseo buscarme molestias ni meterme en camisa de once varas (meddle in other people's business).

13. Hace como el perro del hortelano que no come las berzas ni las deja comer.

14. ¡Caramba! ¿Se viene V. con refranes en una gramática comercial?

15. ¡Calle, hombre! Todos los caminitos van á la plaza (all roads lead to Rome); los españoles son muy aficionados á los refranes.

EXERCISE 2 (60).

Translate into Spanish--

1. These 200 pieces will not go in that case, it is too small.

2. I do not think they will, either.

3. I cannot say anything before I see the result, but I shall be able to tell you something definite to-morrow.

4. Not being able to compete, he has withdrawn from the market.

5. I could not confirm the agreement last week.

6. I believe I could buy a parcel of wheat cheaper to-day unless there should be a sudden rise.

7. In spite of all his efforts, he was obliged to file his petition.

8. Although the market here is firm, we have hopes (esperamos) that prices will relax in view of the bearish tone (tendencia á la baja) shown in the Liverpool market yesterday.

9. The enclosed pattern is rather (algo) poor; still, as it appears to sell well in Central Africa, I should be glad if you would see your way (decidirse) to manufacture it at our price.

10. The new presses (prensas) work fairly well; there is, however, room (lugar) for improvement, and our engineer will write you fully on some proposed modifications.

11. He signed the documents without even (siquiera) reading them, so upset was he by the news the mail had just brought him; therefore we shall be obliged if you will kindly send them back for his perusal and return (para que los examine y se los envíe otra vez).

12. Provided you take a lease of these premises (tome en arriendo este local) for a period of ten years, I shall make the necessary alterations, since I am very eager to have you as a tenant.

13. Although the demand for money is no longer so strong, the market is still under the control (dominio) of the Bank of England, to which it is now indebted for (debe) a considerable amount, and dealings are but on a comparatively small scale.

PART II

LESSON XXXI. (Lección trigésima primera.)

THE ARTICLE.

The =Definite Article= is used in Spanish and not in English (besides rules given in Lesson II)--

1. Before the seasons of the year--

2. Before the hour of the day (with the words _hora, horas,_ understood), as--

Es la una: It is one o'clock. Son las dos y cuarto: It is a quarter past two. Son las tres y cinco: It is five minutes past three. Son las cuatro menos diez: It is ten minutes to four. Las cinco y media: Half-past five.

3. Optionally, before the proper name of a woman used colloquially, as--

La Maria (Mary, our Mary).

4. Optionally, before the days of the week, especially when preceded by "on" in English, as--

Vendré el sábado: I shall come on Saturday.

5. Before the names of the following countries--

El Perú, La India, El Japón.

And some towns to be learnt by practice, as--

La Coruña, El Havre, El Cairo, El Ferrol, etc.

Although found sometimes before the names of countries in general, this example should not be followed.

The Definite Article is used in English and not in Spanish--

1. Before numbers following names of sovereigns, etc., as--

Carlos I (primero), Charles I (the first) Alfonso XIII (trece), Alphonso XIII (the thirteenth)

2. In titles of books, headings, etc., as--Historia de la Inquisición (The History of the Inquisition).

3. Before words in apposition, as--Madrid, capital de España (Madrid, the capital of Spain).

But--

Alfonso el Sabio (Alphonso the Wise) Juana la Loca (Jane the Mad) because these are "titles."

The =Indefinite Article= is used in English and not in Spanish (besides rules in Lesson II)--

1. Before words in apposition, as-- Rubio y Cía., casa importantísima de la Habana: Rubio & Co., a most important firm in Havana.

2. In titles of books, headings, etc., as-- Lista de los géneros pedidos: A list of goods required.

3. In "such a," "so ... a," as-- Tal amigo: Such a friend. Tan buen amigo: So good a friend, such a good friend.

4. In "a half" (medio), "a quarter" (cuarto), "a third" (tercio), in the case of an integer preceding, as-- Uno y medio (1-1/2) Cinco y tercio (penknife/3) Dos y cuarto (2-1/4)

Occasionally the article is omitted before other fractions.

5. Before _otro_, as-- Otra quiebra: Another bankruptcy.

Before weights and measures the definite article is used in Spanish instead of the indefinite used in English, as--

Dos chelines la libra: Two shillings a pound. Cinco pesetas el metro _or_ por metro: 5 pesetas a metre.

The =Definite Article= is omitted before _casa_ and _palacio_ when they are spoken of as places usually frequented by the person in question--

Iré á casa del ingeniero: I shall go to the engineer's house. El Rey volvió ayer a palacio: The King returned yesterday to the palace.

The article must not be employed before a noun used after a preposition in an adjectival capacity, as--

Una viga de hierro (_not_ del hierro): An iron beam.

The tendency of the Spanish language is to omit the indefinite article whenever, by such omission the sense is not obscure, as--

Tengo intención de marcharme: I have a mind to go. Vino con dolor de cabeza: He came with a headache. Le dió cuenta de lo sucedido: He gave him an account of all that had happened. Este caballero tiene mucho _or_ grande ingenio: This gentleman has a great talent.

The =Neuter= article _lo_ cannot precede a noun used _as such,_ but it may (elegantly) precede a noun used adjectively, as--

Todo me gusta en el, lo amigo, lo ciudadano, lo caballero:

I like everything in him: the friend, the citizen, the gentleman.

VOCABULARY.

administrador, manager anteriormente, previously anunciar, to advertise apacible, mild armadura, frame, framing (mach.) atajo, short cut buen éxito, success comprometerse, to undertake edificio, building empresa, undertaking experimentar, to experience grabados (géneros), embossed (goods) hilado, yarn intentar,*tener intención, to intend junto á, coupled with práctico, practical *proponerse, to have in view (á) rayas, striped (goods) recto, straightforward riqueza, wealth sencillo, plain suceder, to succeed, to happen tenedores, holders (of securities, etc.) tratar, to conduct (business) vara, Spanish yard.

EXERCISE 1 (61).

Translate into English--

1. Eran las doce y media del domingo antepasado (before last), apacible dia, que, aunque estamos en otoño, parecía mas dia de primavera, la Maria me acompañaba, aquella Señora del Perú que ha viajado tanto en la India y el Japón y cuyo marido y el mio eran tan amigos.

2. Íbamos a casa de la Señora.

3. La Coruña es ciudad de Galicia.

4. Carlos V., Emperador de Alemania es el mismo monarca que reinó en España con el título de Carlos I desde 1517 á 1551.

5. Luis XIV de Francia no tenía sino cinco años de edad cuando sucedió á su padre Luis XIII en 1643.

6. El principio de su reinado fué dirigido por Mazarín, italiano muy fino (shrewd), y astuto conocedor de los hombres.

7. ¿Qué dice ese papel?

8. Lista de los accesorios que se dan con cada máquina.

9. Tan ventajosas condiciones no se hallan en ningunas otras Compañias para el seguro de la vida.

10. Tales administradores, valen un tesoro (are worth their weight in gold); de ellos depende el buen éxito de las empresas.

11. Otro dependiente como el Sr. Arboleda no lo hallarán entre mil.

12. Estos cuadritos y rayas cuestan 45 céntimos el metro, y estos mercerizados y grabados valen 40 céntimos la vara.

13. ¿Qué es la vara?

14. Es medida española que equivale á =835= milimetros y 9 décimas ó cerca de =33= pulgadas inglesas.

EXERCISE 2 (62).

Translate into Spanish--

1. An "iron framing" is a framing made of iron, but a "steam engine" (máquina a vapor) is an engine moved by steam.

2. I had the intention of giving more such examples but I believe one is enough.

3. In the construction of this building the architect had in view both the beautiful and the practical.

4. Yes, see how (cuán) elegant and at the same time how solid these columns are!

5. Business conducted through us (por nuestro medio) is different from the many advertised systems and promised short cuts to wealth which are dangled before the eyes of the (con que se deslumbra al) public.

6. Our plan is a plain (sencillo), straightforward method of operating by which we undertake to implicitly carry out (cumplir con) the instructions of our customers.

7. Our best advice and service are always at your command (a su disposición).

8. "Kaffirs" have resorted to (han llegado) a state of idleness (inercia) coupled with steadily (más y más) sagging (aflojados) prices.

9. Holders of spot cotton have again experienced quite a brisk inquiry (una demanda muy activa) from spinners, who have freely (abundantemente) covered forward sales (para sus entregas futuras) of yarn.

10. They also took up large lines (grandes cantidades) of cotton previously contracted for (contratadas).

11. The total turnover (las ventas totales) was not quite as good as expected.

LESSON XXXII. (Lección trigéima segunda.)

THE NOUN.

1. The gender of names of countries, provinces, and towns is according to their termination (Lesson III), but those ending in _d_ are generally masculine.

Exceptions are found, the names "ciudad" or "pueblo" being then understood.

2. Names of trees are masculine, those of fruits are feminine.

EXCEPTIONS--

And a few more.

3. A masculine article is used with other parts of speech whole sentences used substantively, as--

Quiero un sí ó un no claro: I want a clear (decisive) yes or no.

El aprender es útil: Learning is useful.

El que lo haya hecho sin consultarme no puede serme de grande gusto: That he did it without consulting me is certainly not pleasing to me.

A list of principal exceptions to the rule given on Spanish gender by termination is given in Appendix I.

To the rules for the formation of the plural (Lesson III) we shall add--

1. Family names ending in _z_ unstressed do not change--

Juan Fernández But--El Sr. Ruiz Los Señores Fernández Los Señores Ruices

2. The names of the vowels pluralize in _es_-- Las aes, las ees, las íes, las oes, las úes.

3. Some Latin words used in Spanish, as--Accessit, déficit, fiat, ultimatum, agnus dei, etc., do not change for the plural, except--Album--álbumes.

For other peculiarities of number see Appendix II. Collective nouns in Spanish are generally followed by the verb in the singular, as--La gente piensa: People think.

But after a collective noun, indefinite in its meaning, the verb may follow in the plural, as--Una cantidad de géneros se vendió, _or_ vendieron en subasta: A quantity of goods was or were sold by auction.

N.B.--The tendency of the language is in favour of the singular.

=Poner= (to put, to place).

_Past Part.,_ Puesto. _Pres. Indic.,_ Pongo.[174] _Imper. Mood,_ Pon ... poned ...[175] _Past Def.,_ Puse, pusiste, puso, pusimos, pusisteis, pusieron. _Future Indic.,_ Pondré, pondras, pondrá, pondremos, pondéis, pondrán.

=Querer= (to want a thing or person, to love a person, to be willing).

_Pres. Indic.,_ Quiero, quieres, quiere,--,--, quieren. [176] _Past Def.,_ Quise, quisiste, quiso, quisimos, quisisteis, quisieron. _Fut. Indic., _Querré, querrás, querrá, querremos, querréis, querrán.

[Footnote 174: Verbs which are irregular in the Pres. Indic. 1st person singular only, have the same irregularity in the present subj. all through.]

[Footnote 175: The 1st person pi. and 3rd pers. sing. and pl. of the Imperative Mood are taken from the Subj. Mood.]

[Footnote 176: Verbs which in the pres. indic. are irregular in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd pers. sing. and 3rd pers. pl. have the same irregularities in the pres. subj. in the same persons.]

=Saber= (to know).

_Pres. Indic., _Sé, . . . _Pres. Subj., _Sepa, sepas, sepa, sepamos, sepáis, sepan. _Past Def., _Supe, supiste, supo, supimos, supisteis, supieron. _Fut. Indic., _Sabré, sabrás, sabrá, sabremos, sabréis, sabrán.

VOCABULARY.

=apuro=, straits, embarrassment =armas blancas=, side arms =armas de fuego=, fire-arms =*atravesar=, to traverse, to cross =campos=, fields =cierre=, lock-out =compensar=, to compensate, to make good =*darse a partido=, to yield, to submit =disturbio=, disturbance =enfurecido, furioso=, furious (enfuriated) =enseñanza=, teaching =*escarmentar=, to take warning =fracaso=, failure =la fuente=, the fountain, source =fuerza motriz=, motive power =fundarse en=, to base upon =huelga=, strike (of workmen) =huerta=, orchard =infinidad (una)=, an infinite number =interior=, interior, inland =limitar=, to confine, to limit =mejorar=, to improve =minero=, miner =obrero=, workman =orillas=, banks of a river =palmera=, date palm =población=, villa, town =póliza de seguro=, insurance policy =prescindir de=, to dispense with =regadío=, irrigation =rieles=, rails =tal cual= (of goods), as they are, as they were =tomar en consideración=, to take into consideration, to entertain =turba=, crowd (motley) =virtualmente=, practically, virtually

EXERCISE 1 (63).

Translate into English--

1. La palmera., el pistacho, y la higuera crecen en Andalucía pero los dátiles, los pistachos y los higos que se venden en el mercado inglés provienen principalmente de Berberia, de Grecia y Esmirna (Smyrna).

2. En los recientes disturbios en la provincia de Champaña muchas viñas se han destruido por las turbas enfurecidas.

3. Explíqueme V. el cómo y el cuando del asunto (all about the affair) y luego (then) considerare yo el pro y el contra.

4. Á mi no me importa el que dirán (what people will say).

5. La industria del hierro es una de las principales fuentes de riqueza del Reino Unido.