Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)
Chapter 12
6. Las máquinas de toda especie, los buques de vapor, los rieles de ferrocarriles, las herramientas mecánicas y agrícolas, las armas blancas y de fuego y una infinidad de otros objetos se deben á esa industria.
7. En el norte de Espana, especialmente en Bilbao se trabaja el hierro en grande escala.
8. El río que atraviesa dicha población presta (gives) fuerza motriz á varias fábricas situadas en sus orillas, y sirve también al regadío de los campos y huertas.
9. Escarmentados por el fracaso de la huelga de los mineros, los obreros hiladores se dieron á partido admitiendo las condiciones ofrecidas por los patronos, evitando así el cierre.
10. Patronos y obreros deberían trabajar armoniosamente y fundados en la justicia; el capital y el trabajo no pueden prescindir el uno del otro.
EXERCISE 2 (64).
Translate into Spanish--
1. The steamer ran aground on the Spanish coast but the crew were saved.
2. People are apt to forget (se olvida facilmente de) the teachings of history (historia).
3. His action has put me in a serious embarrassment.
4. I put it as a condition that the bills be drawn against delivery of B/L and insurance policy.
5. They placed all their trust in their agent.
6. I do not mean to say that they wanted to deceive him.
7. When prices improve we shall be willing (estaremos dispuestos) to sell.
8. I do not know what effect this had on the market.
9. If I knew, I should be able to act accordingly (de conformidad).
10. I do not think he knows (_subj._) what suits him best.
11. The Directors are not in the least (absolutamente) disposed to launch upon (lanzarse a) a large foreign trade, so that the operations of the concern (compañía _or_ casa) remain confined practically to the inland market.
12. We received a claim on our last shipment but we refused to (rehusamos de) entertain it as the goods were jobs (géneros imperfectos) and were sold as they were with all faults (imperfecciones).
13. We are sorry our customers should have suffered any loss, but we cannot make it good, and we shall stand our ground (insistiremos en eso).
LESSON XXXIII. (Lección trigésima tercera.)
AUGMENTATIVE AND DIMINUTIVE TERMINATIONS
(see also Appendix IV).
Examples in English--
Ball, balloon Book, booklet Lad, laddie Man, manikin
These terminations are frequent in Spanish, especially the diminutive.
_On_ (_m._), _ona_ (_f._)[177] denote augmentation, as--
Libro, book Librón, large book
[Footnote 177: Feminine nouns, however, generally take =on= and become masculine, as--
Un mujerón: A tall woman. Except when ambiguity might arise, as:
Un muchachón: A tall or big boy Una muchachona: A tall or big girl.]
_ito_ (_m._), _ita_ (_f._), _ico_ (_m._), _ica_ (_f._)
Denote diminution (to which an idea of endearment is always attached which is natural in Spanish when speaking of little objects in the ordinary way.)
If for any reason disparagement or insignificance is suggested then _illo, illa, uelo, uela_, are used instead.
Other terminations less used are _azo, acho, onazo, achón, ote, astro, aco_, and a few others (augmentative, suggesting (generally) disparagement); _ete, in, ino, itito, itico, itillo_, and a few others (diminutive). If a noun ends in a vowel, this is elided[178] before adding the termination.
[Footnote 178: If a noun ends in _n_ (except proper names like "Juan") or _r, ito, ico, illo, uelo_, change into =cito, cico, cillo, zuelo=. If a noun of one syllable ends in a consonant, or a noun of two syllables ends in _e_ or _ío_, or contains a diphthong, _ito, ico_, etc., change into =ecito, ecico=, etc. If a noun of one syllable ends in a vowel, _ito, ico_, etc., become =ececito, ececico=, etc. Other slight changes occur also.]
The Augmentative and Diminutive terminations have no determinate meaning: they are vague and indefinite and consequently when preciseness is required we must use the adjectives "grande," "pequeño," etc. (which can be employed conjointly with the terminations), as--
Me dió dos librones gruesos y tres libritos delgados: He gave me two heavy big books and three small ones.
Students should use the terminations _on_ and _ito_ but no others until they become familiar with them with reading, as they cannot be used indiscriminately with all nouns.
The termination _azo_ serves also to indicate an injury or explosion from a weapon, as--
Un sablazo (a sabre-cut) Un puñetazo (a blow with the fist) Un navajazo (a stab with a knife) Un cañonazo (a cannon-shot)
With some weapons some other terminations are used--
Una cuchillada (same as navajazo) Una paliza (a thrashing with a stick)
=Traer= (to bring).
_Pres. Part._, Trayendo (_i_ unstressed between two vowels always changes into _y_). _Pres. Indic._, Traigo. _Past Def._, Traje, trajiste, trajo, trajimos, trajisteis, trajeron.
VOCABULARY.
=actitud=, actitude =agiotista=, stock-jobber =alejarse=, to go away =aludir á=, to allude, to hint =apurado de dinero=, short of money =apurar=, to purify, to exhaust =calcular=, to calculate, to reckon =callar=, to keep silent, to omit speaking =cambiar=, to change, to alter =consignar=, to consign, to record =contrato social=, articles of partnership =cordobán=, morocco leather =despacio=, slowly =despreciable=, despicable =dinero efectivo=, cash =discutir=, to discuss =especulación=, speculation, venture =garrote=, cudgel, stick =*impedir=, to hinder, to preclude =ladrón=, thief =(el) matiz=, shade =*mover=, to move, to actuate =mozalbete=, beardless youth =*quebrantamiento=, breakage, break down =reflejo=, reflection =*seguir=, to pursue =sin ton ni son=, without rhyme or reason =sombrero de copa=, silk hat =vejete=, diminutive old man =vocablo=, vocable, word
EXERCISE 1 (65).
Translate into English--
1. El agiotista que V. ve allí, aquel hombrón con el sombrerote de copa, ha hecho un fortunazo en sus especulaciones bursátiles (stock exchange speculations).
2. Aquel vejete que le acompaña con ese mozalbete su hijo me ha vendido una partidilla de Cordobán muy baratita.
3. Librazo, libraco, librote, libracho son todos variaciones de "libro," como también librito, librillo, libreto, librete, libretín, librejo que son sus formas diminutivas.
4. Libreta es diminutive de "libra"; se usa también por pan de una libra; "libreto" es el de una ópera; el cuadernito de papel de fumar es "librillo."
5. Estas graduaciones ó matices del sentido se deben aprender con la práctica y se deben usar naturalmente sin afectación como reflejo del profundo conocimiento de la lengua, y no copiados de un diccionario "sin ton ni son" como se dice en español.
6. Por ejemplo, "librazo, libracho, y librote" se refieren más al aspecto del libro. "Libracos" mas a los despreciables por su contenido.
7. También se debe notar que algunas terminaciones convienen á ciertos vocablos y á otros no, por ejemplo hay "libraco" y "pajarraco" pero esta terminación no puede tomarla el sustantivo "hombre."
8. En fin con lo dicho y con lo consignado en el apéndice IV el estudiante tiene bastante por ahora.
9. Con la República en Portugal acabadita de proclamar, nos vemos apuradillos de dinero pues los clientes portugueses van despacito en sus remesas.
10. Callandito se vino el ladronzuelo y se alejó sin ser visto.
11. Cuchilladas, pistolazos, revolveradas, y aún garrotazos son raros en Inglaterra; el Inglés se bate a puñetazo limpio (with his fist) cuando es de la hampa (a rough), y cuando es caballero no se bate aunque si llega el caso es muy capaz de dar muy buena cuenta de sí.
EXERCISE 2 (66).
Translate into Spanish--
1. If you cannot command (no puede disponer de) cash, we shall have to alter our price lists as our prices will have to be reckoned on a different basis; they will be a little dearer.
2. I am bound to say that there is some very strong opinion on this side (de este lado) against the course your Government intends to pursue in the matter.
3. The situation has been complicated by the breakdown of the arrangement we had made with our carriers (agentes de transporte).
4. I believe that the reason actuating Mr. Melero's attitude (mueve al Sr. M. en su) towards us, a reason which he hinted more than once in his correspondence, is that his articles of partnership with his friends in Rosario preclude him from entertaining (tomar en consideración) any new ventures.
5. At the monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce (Consejo de la Cámara de Comercio) the Japanese tariff was discussed on a (tras) communication from the Board of Trade ("Board of Trade," Ministerio de Comercio).
LESSON XXXIV. (Lección trigésima cuarta.)
THE ADJECTIVE.
The position of qualifying adjectives is generally after the noun, especially
1. Those denoting physical qualities, as--
Un hombre ciego: A blind man. Una mesa redonda: A round table. Paño negro: Black cloth.
2. Those denoting nationality, as--
Quincalla inglesa: British hardware.
3. Those derived from verbs, as--
Mercancía averiada: Damaged goods.
The above rule is subject to many exceptions for the sake of euphony or to give more than the ordinary prominence to the adjective or the noun; however, the following rule will be found a reliable general one, and it is in fact the informing principle of all special rules given in the various grammars--
An adjective used as an epithet should precede the noun; if used as a distinguishing word it should follow.
By an adjective used as an epithet, we mean one calling to mind a quality known (or supposed) to belong to the noun, as--
No perdió el aliento el valiente general: The brave general did not lose courage.
By a distinguishing word we mean one used to indicate the quality of a noun as compared with another of the same species, as--
Quiero comprar maquinaria barata: I wish to buy cheap machinery.
The Partitive Adjectives "some" and "any" are left out in translation when they do not convey the idea of limited quantity. When they do, "algún," "un poco de" (_sing._), "algunos" and "unos" (_pl._) are used.
"Un poco de" and "unos" convey the idea of a more limited quantity or number than "alguno" and "algunos."
The following few examples are calculated to make it clear as regards the various shades of meaning--
¿Tiene V. alfombras? Have you any carpets?
Tengo algún azúcar para vender: I have some sugar to sell.
¿Quiere V. un poco de papel? Will you have some paper?
Yo tengo algunas obligaciones: I have some debentures.
He recibido algunos cigarros, le reservaré unas cajas de los mejores: I received some cigars; I shall reserve for you some boxes of the best quality.
One adjective preceding two or more nouns agrees in gender and number with the first only, as--
La nueva caldera y accesorios gustó (_or_ gustaron) mucho al cliente: The new boiler and accessories pleased the customer very much.
N.B.--If a verb intervenes the adjective is generally plural, and in case of different genders is pl. masc., as--
Adjuntos remitimos factura y conocimiento: Enclosed we send invoice and bill of lading.
When the adjective follows two or more nouns, it is put in the plural, as--
El trigo y el maíz están sostenidos: Wheat and maize are firm.
If the nouns are of different genders, the adjective is pl. masc., as--
El encaje y las guarniciones han salido caros: The lace and trimmings came out dear.
EXCEPTION--
When all the several nouns preceding the adjective are in the plural, and all referring to things (not persons), the adjective _may_ be made to agree in gender with the noun last mentioned, as--
Los tornillos y las tuercas están bien ajustados (_or_ ajustadas): The screws and nuts are well adjusted. It is better to avoid this construction
(1) By saying "las tuercas y los tornillos están bien ajustados."
(2) By using an adjective having the same termination for masculine and feminine.
(3) By giving a different turn to the sentence, as: "Son de buen ajuste".
Adjectives that qualify the fem. _nada_ (nothing) are always used in the masculine--
Nada bueno espero de él: I expect nothing good from him.
Adjectives referring to titles of individuals are placed in the gender of the persons bearing those titles, as--
V. (contraction of Vuestra Merced) es muy buen amigo: You are a very good friend.
Adjectives of colour derived from a noun, as "violeta" (violet), "rosa" (pink), "chocolate" (chocolate), etc., do not take the mark of the plural, the words "color de" being understood before them, as--
Guantes crema: Cream gloves.
=Valer= (to be worth).
_Pres. Indic._, Valgo. _Fut. Indic._, Valdré, valdrás, valdrá, valdremos, valdréis, valdrán. _Imper. Mood_, Val _or_ vale....
VOCABULARY.
=aceite=, oil =aflojar=, to slacken =ajuste de averia=, average adjustment =almacenes fiscales=, bonded ware houses =carne en salmuera=, pickled beef =comarca=, region =conceder=, to grant, to allow =cosecha=, crop, harvest =cueros=, hides =exiguo=, small, insignificant, slender =incluir=, to include, to enclose =incluso=, included =incluyendo=, including =íntegro=, upright, integer, whole =interino=, interim =juicioso=, sensible =linones, olanes=, lawns =manteca de puerco, lardo=, lard =pieles=, skins =productos accesorios=, by-products =sebo=, tallow =tarjeta=, card =tasajo=, jerked beef =tierno=, tender =viajante=, commercial traveller[179]
[Footnote 179: Traveller (passenger, tourist)--Viajero.]
EXERCISE 1 (67).
Translate into English--
1. Benéficas lluvias han caído en toda la comarca, y las tiernas plantas prometen abundante cosecha si siguen favorables las condiciones climatológicas (climatic).
2. Las compras baratas no resultan siempre lo que se llama "gangas" (bargains) pues es necesario también que sean de calidad conveniente y adecuada para el mercado á que se las destine.
3. He recibido una consignación de carne en salmuera, lenguas en latas (canned tongues), tasajo, sebo, margarina, manteca de puerco (_or_ lardo), y productos accesorios que espero poder colocar bien.
4. Me enviaron también un poco de aceite de margarina, heces de sebo (tallow greaves), hueso molido (bone-meal) y tripas de buey (ox casings) baratas.
5. ¿Ha vendido V. algo de estas?
6. No, pero he vendido un poco de sebo.
7. ¿ No ha recibido V. cueros y pieles?
8. No, estos no pertenecen á mi ramo de negocios (line of business).
9. Ha entrado mucho té este mes en los almacenes fiscales y además algún café de Costa Rica.
10. La magnífica colección de muestras y tarjetas para reclamo (advertisement) que nos trajo ese viajante nos han gustado muchísimo.
11. El ajuste de avería y el cheque por la indemnización concedida van inclusos.
12. Tanto los provechos como las pérdidas son exiguos (_or_ exiguas).
13. No hay nada (de) extraordinario en que afloje el mercado.
14. V. es hombre integro y su Señora es mujer juiciosa.
15. Le tomaré algunas piezas de prueba de estos linones rosa y crema pero nada de estos estampados chocolate.
EXERCISE 2 (68).
Translate into Spanish--
1. We have to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed letter of the 1st inst., which brought us £640 on L. & Sons, payable August 10th.
2. Carried forward (á la vuelta). Brought forward (de la vuelta).
3. Brown sugars have been rather brisk for some time (desde algún tiempo).
4. The manufacturer has discontinued making the old article.
5. The Directors of the Z Company announce an interim (provisorio) dividend for the first six months of the current year at the rate of 10 per cent. per annum.
6. Reuter's Paris correspondent telegraphs that earnest representations are being made by the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris to the French Customs Administration (Administración de Aduanas) concerning the recent change in the classification of yarns wound on bobbins (en bobinas), a matter which seriously affects Lancashire interests.
7. The great object (objeto principal) the meeting had in view was the promotion of further (el abrir nuevas vías al) progress and (y á la) civilisation. That necessarily implied fewer appeals to the arbitrament of the sword (que deberían disminuir los casos de apelar á la espada) and (y ser) more frequent appeals to the remedy of reason.
LESSON XXXV. (Lección trigésima quinta.)
THE ADJECTIVE (_contd._).
=Degrees of Comparison=.
"As ... as" and "so ... as" are translated "tan ... como," "as much ... as" and "so much ... as" are translated "tanto-a,-os-as ... como" or "cuanto."
N.B.--_Cuan_ may be used instead of _como_ before an adjective as--
Tan razonable en precio cuan apreciado por la buena calidad: As reasonable in price as it is appreciated for its good quality.
"The more ... the more" is translated "cuanto más ... tanto más"; also "más ... más" (without the article).
"Than whom," "than which" is translated as follows--
Sedas floreadas italianas que no las hay mejores en el mercado: Italian flowered silks, than which there are no better on the market.
Adjectives ending in _io_ (not _ío_) drop the whole diphthong before adding _ísimo_, as--
Amplio--Amplísimo (very ample).
EXCEPT Agrio--Agriísimo (very sour).
Those ending in _z_ change of course the _z_ into c, as--
Feliz--felicísimo[180] (very happy).
[Footnote 180: _Z_ should not occur before _e_ and _i_ in modern Spanish.]
The irregular superlatives _óptimo, pésimo, máximo, mínimo, ínfimo_ and _supremo_ are used very sparingly, but they are found both as superlative absolute and superlative relative, as--
Esta es una cantidad ínfima: It is an infinitesimal amount.
El precio mínimo[181]: The minimum price.
[Footnote 181: Although improperly, we often find "más mínimo" (más ínfimo, etc.).]
El supremo bien de la vida es hacer á otros felices: The highest blessing of life is to make others happy.
The irregular comparatives _mejor_ and _peor_ are in general use.
_Mayor_ and _menor_ refer more generally to age (older, elder, and younger).
"_Inferior_" and "_superior_" are generally used as their English equivalents.
The expressions "a larger building," "a higher tree," etc., are generally rendered "un edificio más grande," "un árbol más alto," etc.
Irregular superlatives--
Acre (sour) Acérrimo Amigo (friendly) Amicísimo Antiguo (ancient) Antiquísimo Áspero (harsh) Aspérrimo Benéfico (beneficent) Beneficentísimo Benévolo (benevolent) Benevolentísimo Célebre (celebrated) Celebérrimo Fiel (faithful) Fidelísimo Íntegro (upright) Integérrimo Libre (free), Libérrimo Magnífico (magnificent) Magnificentísimo Mísero (miserable) Misérrimo Munífico (munificent) Munificentísimo Pobre (poor), Paupérrimo, _and_ Pobrísimo (more used) Sabio (wise) Sapientísimo Sagrado (holy) Sacratísimo Salubre (healthy) Salubérrimo Simple (simple) Simplicísimo --Ubérrimo (most fruitful)
Some of the best modern authors write "buenísimo," "nuevísimo," etc., regularly without substituting the diphthong by the pure vowel, as "bonísimo," "novísimo," notwithstanding the shifting of the stress.[182]
[Footnote 182: See Note 47.]
Substantives used as adjectives admit of comparison, as--
Es tan caballero _or_ más caballero que sus contrincantes: He is as (or more) gentlemanly as (than) his neighbours (competitors).
"Than" followed by a number, unless the sentence be negative, is translated by _de_.
"Than" followed by a finite verb is _de lo que_, as--
Cumple más de lo que promete: He accomplishes more than he promises.
But--
Hablar Español es más difícil que escribirlo: To speak Spanish is more difficult than to write it.
The following expressions are translated--
Él le lleva seis años: He is older than you by six years.
Esta tela cuesta cinco peniques menos la yarda: This cloth is cheaper by five pence a yard.
Esta casa es diez años más antigua: This firm is older by ten years.
Es tan poderoso que domina el mercado: He is so powerful as to control the market.
=Ver= (to see). _Past Part._, Visto. _Pres. Indic._, Veo[183] ...
[Footnote 183: It forms the pres. subj., Vea, veas, etc. _Imperf. Indic._, Veía, veías, veía, veíamos, veíais, veían.]
VOCABULARY.
=acaudalado=, rich, wealthy =*advertir=, to notice =alcalde=, mayor =alfombrada=, carpeting =añadir=, to add =apagarse=, to go out (fire) =atraicionar=, to betray =boticario=, chemist =caja fuerte=, safe =calorífero=, stove =carbón (de piedra)=, coal =carbón (vegetal)=, charcoal =carpeta=, writing-pad =casillero=, pigeon-holes =certificar=, to certify, to register (in the post) =chimenea=, chimney =contestar=, to answer =echar al correro=, to post =ensartar=, to string (beads), to file (papers) =escaño=, stool =estante=, book-shelf =franqueo=, postage =guardafuego=, fender =guardapapeles, ensartapapeles=, paper files =humear=, to smoke (chimney) =lacre=, sealing wax =legajo=, bundle (of papers) =librarse=, to get rid of =mano de papel secante=, quire of blotting-paper =pupitre=, writing desk =sello=, seal =el sobre=, the envelope =sujeta papeles=, paper fasteners
EXERCISE 1 (69).
Translate into English--
1. La casa de Rioja a y Cía. es tan respetable por su buena fama (name) como por lo acaudalados que son sus propietarios.
2. Sí, es más estimada que cualquiera otra.
3. Dicen que tiene más de £150,000 de capital.
4. Es muy rica en efecto, pero no creo que su capital ascienda á más que £100,000.
5. Cuanto más corriente en sus tratos es un negociante, tanto mejor le resultan sus transacciones.
6. Estas son alfombradas de Bruselas que no las hay mejores en todo el mundo.
7. Tenemos un campo (field) amplísimo para nuestras operaciones, las cuales hasta aquí han tenido felicísimo resultado.
8. Nuestros géneros son todos de óptima calidad y á precios ínfimos.
9. Es de interés supremo para nosotros el dar los mejores productos á precios mínimos.
10. La cantidad máxima no ha de exceder 500 kilógramos.
11. El hermano mayor es notario y alcalde del pueblo, el menor es boticario.
12. La ciudad de Cádiz es antiquísima; fundóse en el siglo XV antes de la era vulgar por los Fenicios.
13. El clima de Valparaíso es salubírrimo.
14. Fidelísimo criado, no quiso atraicionar á su amo que había sido beneficentísimo para con él.
15. Euclides fué celebérrimo geómetra.
EXERCISE 2 (70).
Translate into Spanish--
1. I wish to straighten (poner en orden) the desk on (en) my table.
2. My pad is full of papers; I must get rid (librarme) of them.
3. Will you put all those answered letters in that shelf; You will find the pigeon-holes alphabetically arranged, put each letter in the proper bundle.
4. These others are filed away in that letter-file, alphabetically also.
5. Put the file in the safe; we always keep it under lock and key (bajo llave).
6. Now give me a quire of blotting-paper, pens, nibs (puntitas), paper-fasteners and the stamp-rack (porta-estampillas).
7. These envelopes go into the waste-paper basket (cestilla).
8. Fetch that stool, please; place it before that desk (banco).
9. See to the (hacer atención al) fire, it is going out, poke it (removerlo) a little and add some coal.
10. This is the coal scuttle (caja del carbón), the shovel (la pala) and the poker (atizador) are near the fender.
11. Hot-water pipes (tubos) are preferable to fires or stoves.
12. Yes, our chimney always smokes; it is a nuisance (¡que fastidio! ¡que barbaridad!).
13. Post these letters. Stamp them (póngales los sellos) and notice there are some to be registered (para certificar).
14. Do not forget to put the stamp of the firm (casa).
15. If any weigh in excess (demasiado), it does not matter (no importa); put the excess postage.
16. Seal that envelope; here are the seal and sealing-wax.
LESSON XXXVI. (Lección trigésima sexta.)
THE ADJECTIVE (_contd_.).
The adjective _grande_ (great, large) may _precede_ or follow a noun.
If it precedes it _may_ drop the final syllable. When _grande_ (or _gran_) precedes it generally refers more to quality than to size, but this rule is not strict _at all_, as much is left to the tone of the voice and also to gesture.