Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)
Chapter 4
á mí me _or_ to me direct and indirect object á tí thee _or_ to thee " " " " á él him _or_ to him, " " " " it _(m.) or_ " " " " to it _(m.)_ " " " " á ella her _or_ to her, " " " " it _(f.) or_ " " " " to it _(f.)_ " " " " á nosotros-as us _or_ to us " " " " á vosotros-as you _or_ to you " " " " á ellos them _or_ " " " " to them _(m.)_ " " " " á ellas them _or_ " " " " to them _(f.)_ " " " "
We have then a double form for the pronouns used as direct and indirect object of verb--one Conjunctive, the other Disjunctive.
The =Conjunctive= form is that in general use.
The =Disjunctive= form is employed when emphasis or distinctness is required. It is seldom used alone,[74] Spaniards preferring to use it as a repetition after having used the Conjunctive form, as--
Él me ama á mí: He loves _me_.
Él nos vende á nosotros géneros estampados y á V. géneros de fantasía: He sells to _us_ printed cloth and to _you_ fancies.
Yo le quiero ver á él y no á ella: I wish to see _him_ and not _her_.
Déle V. el dinero á él y los libros á ella. Give _him_ the money and _her_ the books.
Dé V. el dinero á él y los libros á ella. Give _him_ the money and _her_ the books.
[Footnote 74: In sentences like "Le pagarán más que á mí" (they will pay _him_ more than _me_), "me pagarán" is understood after _que_.]
VOCABULARY.
=acero=, steel =antes=, before--in point of time =asunto= (_not_ =sujeto=), the subject-matter =Bolsa=, the Exchange =calcular=, to calculate =celebrarse=, to be celebrated, to take place =compañía anónima=, limited company =*concebir=, to conceive =conjunción=, conjunction =desfavorable=, unfavourable =donde=, where =emisión=, issue, of loans, etc. =emplearse=, to be employed, to be used =espalda=, shoulder (back) =explicar= to explain =explanar= to explain =falta de aceptación=, non-acceptance =falta de pago=, non-payment =la frase=, the phrase, sentence =ganancias y pérdidas=, profits and losses =el gerente=, the manager =*gobernar=, to govern =*haber=, there to be[75] =hay=, there is[75] =hay=, there are =el hecho=, the fact =la ley=, the law =llamar=, to call =más adelante=, later on =la mente=, the mind =los negocios=, the business =Pascua=, Easter =posición=, position =proyecto=, scheme, plan =pues, entonces=, then =regresar=, to come or go back =*saber=, to know =la semana pasada=, last week =sírvase V=., please =tenga la bondad de=, please =tratar=, to try =*valer=, to be worth =valor=, courage =*volver=, to turn, to go back, to turn back
[Footnote 75: As an impersonal verb, "haber" makes "hay" instead of "ha" in the Pres. Indicative.]
EXERCISE 1 (15).
Translate into English--
1. ¿Usamos nunca el modo subjuntivo en una frase principal?
2. No, Señor, aunque hay quien lo diga (some who say so).
3. ¿Dónde lo empleamos pues?
4. En frases dependientes de ciertos verbos y conjunciones.
5. ¿Y cómo sabemos que después de éstos se debe emplear el verbo (must be used) en subjuntivo?
6. Porque entonces la acción del verbo es representada[76] sólo como concebida en la mente y no se habla de ella como de un hecho.
7. ¿Nos explicará V. esta regla otra vez más adelante?
8. Sí. No hago más que introducir (I only introduce) el asunto.
9. Tan pronto como (as soon as) volvemos la espalda, nuestros negocios principian á sufrir.
10. Un caballero no hace nunca nada en espalda de otro, sino que (but) habla claro, y tiene el valor de sus opiniones.
11. ¿Cuándo regresará el gerente del Banco?
12. Estará de vuelta (he will be back) hoy en quince.
13. Debe asistir á (attend) la reunión de Directores que se celebrará en Londres á primeros del mes que viene (at the beginning of next month).
14. El mercado de Coloniales (Colonial produce) carece de (lacks) animación.
15. Carecemos de noticias del vapor en que van los granos (carrying the grain).
16. ¿Cómo han salido Vs. de aquella especulación en las minas de cobre (copper mines)?
17. Hemos salido muy mal, la relación semestral (half-yearly report) de la compañía hace constar (shows) una situación muy desfavorable y no habrá dividendo este año.
18. Talvez se remedien las cosas (things) el año próximo.
19. Hay que esperarlo (let us hope so).
[Footnote 76: _Or_ se representa.]
EXERCISE 2 (16).
Translate into Spanish--
1. We beg to confirm (confirmamos)[77] our cable (cable) of last week.
2. They calculated their profits and losses.
3. I calculate upon doing it (cuento con hacerlo) before Easter.
4. This is not calculated to produce (no se cree que esto producirá) any bad impression.
5. He called him to his house.
6. We take the liberty to call your attention to the position of your account (nos tomamos la libertad de dirigir ...).
7. The creditors were called (convocados) to a meeting.
8. I was called away (tuve que ausentarme).
9. I shall call at (pasaré por) the exchange.
10. All the old issues were called in (se recogieron).
11. The "Shannon" will call at (hará escala en) Cádiz.
12. They will make a call (pedirán una cuota) of £1 per share.
13. This steel is worth much less than that.
14. It is not worth (no vale la pena de) buying.
15. This limited company is worth (posee) £50,000.
16. This scheme is worthy of study (merece ser estudiado).
17. Please protest the bill in case of non-acceptance and then again for non-payment.
18. The law of supply and demand (demanda y oferta) governs the markets of the world (mundo).
19. The deeds (las actas) were all signed by a notary (notario).
20. Kindly take due note (debida _or_ buena nota) of our signature at foot (firma al pie).
21. All our efforts (esfuerzos) have been of no avail (en balde, en vano).
22. In vain (en balde, en vano) we tried.
[Footnote 77: Do not translate "beg" before an infinitive.
LESSON IX. (Lección novena.)
PERSONAL PRONOUNS (_contd._).
Pronouns in the Disjunctive form occupy the same position in the sentence as they do in English.
Pronouns in the Conjunctive form precede the verb, as--
Él los compró: He bought them.
Yo le mostraré á V. mi libro mayor y mi diario: I shall show you my ledger and journal or day-book.
Mi cajero les pagará lo que les debo: My cashier will pay you what I owe you.
Nos ha exhibido su libro de facturas: He showed us his invoice book.
Me cedió los valores y efectos en cartera: He made over to me his stock of securities and bills.
El corredor le vió en la agencia de los vapores: The broker saw him at the steamship agent's.
EXCEPTIONS--
1. When a sentence begins with a verb, especially if the sentence is a long one, the Conjunctive pronoun _may_ follow the verb, _except when this is in the Subjunctive Mood_, as--
Bonificóle esta cantidad en cuenta corriente para no perder el cliente: He credited him the amount in A/c current in order not to lose his customer.
N.B.--Students should not indulge in this liberty until they have acquired practice in the language. In conversation this change seldom occurs. When the change is used the Subject Pronoun is generally left understood.
2. When the verb is in the Infinitive Mood, Gerund, or Imperative Mood,[78] the Conjunctive Pronoun _must_ follow, and is joined to the verb to form one word: as--
Lo mejor con estos géneros es venderlos en subasta: The best thing with these goods is to sell them by auction.
Abandonándole la ganancia acabaremos con el asunto: By giving up the profit to him, we shall end the matter.
Refiéralos V. á los armadores: Refer them to the shipowners.
Hágannos Vs. esta bonificación: Make us this allowance.
Cárguenos en cuenta este renglón: Debit this line to our account.
Abónenle la suma que reclama: Credit him with the amount he claims.
[Footnote 78: By Imperative Mood, we mean Imperative Mood Affirmative. In Spanish there is no imperative mood negative, its place being taken by the Present Subjunctive, as--
Háblale tú: Speak to him. No le hables tú: Do not speak to him.]
If two Conjunctive pronouns meet, contrary to the English general rule, the pronoun which stands as indirect object precedes the pronoun standing as direct object,[79] as--
Ellos nos lo garantizan: They guarantee it to us.
If these two pronouns are both in the 3rd person, the indirect object is changed into =Se=, as--
Nosotros se lo vendimos: We sold it to him. V. se lo mandó (á ella)[80]: You sent it to her. Nosotros se lo aconsejamos (á ellos)[80]: We gave them that advice. Yo se lo digo (á V.)[80]: I tell it to you.
[Footnote 79: Combinations of _me_ and _te_ are _very rare_, and then _te_ precedes whether direct or indirect object, the context clearly showing the meaning. In such cases it is better, however, to use a disjunctive form, for the indirect object, as--
Él te da á mí: He gives thee to me. Él me da á tí: He gives me to thee.]
[Footnote 80: _Á él, á ella, á V._, etc., may be added for clearness, when otherwise ambiguity might occur.]
VOCABULARY.
=administrador=, manager (of a branch house, etc.) =arancel=, custom-house tariff =aviso=, advice, notice =confianza=, trust, confidence =constantemente=, constantly =conveniente=, convenient, suitable =correo=, post, post office =*dar aviso=, to inform, to give notice to leave =*dar aviso de despedida=, to give notice of dismissal =de moda=, fashionable =devolver=, to give or send back =efectuar=, to effect =favorable=, favourable =fijar=, to fix =holgazán, haragán=, lazy =honrar=, to honour =indicar=, to indicate, to point out =largo=, long =noticia, noticias=, news =*poner en condiciones=, to enable =por=, _or_ =de, su cuenta=, on his account =el sobre=, the envelope =tomar nota=, to take note, to notice =venta=, sale
EXERCISE 1 (17).
Translate into English--
1. Me aprecia. Te necesita. Le manda. Lo cree. Nos halla. Os busca.
2. Son géneros de moda, los vende muy bien.
3. Son buenas plumas, las usamos constantemente.
4. Me escribe que te envía los sobres.
5. Le indica el medio más conveniente.
6. Nos honra con (with) su confianza.
7. Os fija sus límites.
8. Les da su cotización.
9. Creernos.
10. Mandarnos los presupuestos (estimates).
11. Venderles á crédito.
12. Dándonos sus instrucciones tan claras, nos pone en condiciones de servirle á toda su satisfacción (his entire satisfaction).
13. Dígannos Vs. (tell us) la verdad.
14. Él me lo escribió.
15. Nosotros te lo mandaremos.
16. Él nos lo explicó.
17. Yo os lo enviaré.
18. Se lo escribiremos á él.
19. Se lo explicaremos á ella.
20. Compraron los géneros y se los vendieron á ellos.
21. Vendieron las telas y se las mandaron á ellas.
22. ¿Me lo dice V. (do you say) á mí?
23. Sí, Señor, se lo digo á V. mismo (I say it to you yourself)
24. Yo mismo lo mandé.
25. V. mismo me lo ha escrito.
26. Nosotros mismos no podríamos (could not) hacerlo mejor.
27. Él me lo dió (gave) á mí, y yo se lo entregué á él.
28. Su socio es mejor que él, y él es mejor que ella.
EXERCISE 2 (18).
Translate into Spanish--
1. Did you see (vió V.) the new Custom House tariff?
2. Yes, I saw (ví) it.
3. It is more favourable to us than the old.
4. We sent it to the manager of our Liverpool branch (sucursal).
5. We sent it to him yesterday; he will return it to us after he has read it (después que lo haya leído).
6. Did you give (dió V.) it (_m._) to me or to him?
7. I gave (dí) it to you, not to him.
8. Well (bien)! he says (dice) that he will not give it to me until you tell him to do so (hasta que V. se lo diga).
9. He took it with him, and we took it with us.
10. I shall take it (_f._) with me.[81]
11. Take it with thee.[81]
12. It is a long letter, but it is necessary to write it to-day.
13. Writing it to-day you are in time (á tiempo) for the post.
14. Mr. So-and-So gave more money to you than to me.
15. We have taken notice of it.
16. Take due notice of the contents (del contenido) of the letter.
17. Give him notice (aviso) of the sales you effected on (por) his account.
18. There is nothing worthy of notice (no hay nada de particular) in our market to-day.
19. I gave him notice because he is very lazy.
20. This circumstance (circunstancia) must have escaped your notice (debe habérsele pasado por alto).
21. Do not take any notice of him (no le haga V. caso).
22. I gave notice to my landlord (propietario).
[Footnote 81: See next note.]
LESSON X. (Lección décima.)
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS.
These pronouns are not, of course, used as subject of the verb. They are used as the object of the verb when this and the subject are the same.
They are the same as the other personal pronouns, as--
Conjunctive form. Disjunctive form.
myself me mí thyself te tí
EXCEPTION-- 3rd person for both genders & numbers: se sí
EXAMPLES--
Él se ama: He loves himself.
Ella se atribuye la culpa: She attributes the fault to herself.
María habla siempre de sí[82]: Mary is always talking about herself.
Nosotros nos divertimos al mismo tiempo que hacemos negocios: We enjoy ourselves at the same time as we do business.
Ellos se respetan á sí y á otros también: They respect themselves and others too.
_Mismo-a,-os,-as_, may be added to the disjunctive form for emphasis, as--
María habla siempre de sí misma: Mary always speaks of herself.
Ella se atribuye la culpa: She attributes the fault to herself.
Ella se atribuye la culpa á sí: She attributes the fault to herself. (more emphatic).
Ella se atribuye la culpa á sí misma: She attributes the fault to herself (still more emphatic).
[Footnote 82: After _con_ (with) _si_ becomes Sigo; same change with _mí_ and _tí_: conmigo, contigo, consigo, written in one word.]
The pronoun =Se= with any verb in the 3rd pers. sing. or plural may be used to form the passive voice, as--
Se ha cerrado el almacén: The warehouse has been closed.
Se han encaminado las reclamaciones á la Compañía de Seguros[83]: The claims have been referred to the Insurance Company.
[ootnote 83: This form is preferable when the "doer" is not mentioned.]
=Se= followed by a verb in the 3rd pers. sing.[84] translates the English "one," "people," "they" (_indefinite_), as the French "on" and the German "man," as---
Se dice que habrá un alza[85] en el mercado: They say, _or_ it is said, that there will be a rise in the market.
Se cree que no habrá Reforma Arancelaria en Inglaterra: People think, _or_ it is thought, that there will not be Tariff Reform in England.
En la vejez se goza el fruto de una juventud laboriosa: In old age one enjoys the fruits of active youth _or_ The fruits of active youth are enjoyed in old age.
[Footnote 84: Or we can use the 3rd pers. plur. of the verb without the pronoun.]
[Footnote 85: Or "una alza" (both used).]
As will be seen, this is really a form of the passive voice rendered by "se," as "se goza" instead of "es gozado." But there are more typical examples, as--
Los géneros se han fabricado en Irlanda y se los ha (_not_ han) plegado como lienzos irlandeses: The goods were made in Ireland and they folded them as Irish Linens.
A Conjunctive Reflexive Pronoun, whether direct or indirect object, always precedes any other conjunctive pronoun, as---
Yo me lo reservo: I reserve it for myself. Nosotros nos lo guardamos: We keep it for ourselves. Se me dice: It is said to me (it says itself to me). Se les venden las telas: The cloths are sold to them. Nosotros nos le confiamos: We entrust ourselves to him. Vosotros os les empeñasteis en £1,000: You pledged yourselves to them for £1,000.
_Subjunctive Mood, Imperfect Tense_.[86] +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ | =Hablar=. | =Temer=. | =Partir=. | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+ |Que yo hablase (that |Temiese (that I |Partiese (that I might,| | I might, should or | might, should, or | should or would | | would speak, etc.) | would fear, etc.) | depart, etc.) | | " tú hablases |Temieses |Partieses | | " él hablase |Temiese |Partiese | | " nosotros hablásemos|Temiésemos |Partiésemos | | " vosotros hablaseis |Temieseis |Partieseis | | " ellos hablasen |Temiesen |Partiesen | +--------------------------------------------------------------------+
[Footnote 86: This tense is formed from the Past Def. by changing the termination _ron_ of the 3rd pers. pl. into _se, ses, se, semos, seis sen_, in all the three conjugations.]
VOCABULARY.
=en la actualidad, al momento=, at present =á menudo=, often =acostumbrarse=, to accustom oneself =admitir=, to acknowledge =aparecer=, to appear =aplicarse=, to apply oneself =ayuda=, help =boletín=, form, slip, price list =caucho seco=, dry rubber =cebada y avena=, barley and oats =cifras=, figures =la compra=, the purchase =*contar (con)=, to count, to rely on =la costumbre=, custom =cualquiera=, any (_affirm._) =cuidadosamente=, carefully =declararse en quiebra=, to file one's petition in bankruptcy =dedicarse=, to devote oneself =dirigirse=, to address oneself =escribirse=, to write to each other, to one another =escuchar=, to listen to =exacto=, exact, accurate =firmeza=, firmness =industria azucarera=, sugar industry =los informes=, information =lisonjearse=, to flatter oneself =llamarse=, to be called =el montaje=, the erection of machinery, etc. =*moverse=, to be moved, driven (machinery) =operadores=, dealers (on 'Change) =partida=, lot (of goods) =perfeccionar=, to perfect, improve (machinery) =*reconocer=, to acknowledge =recursos=, means = respetar=, to respect =sección=, section =tacharse=, to censure, to blame, oneself =tejidos=, textiles, cloths =últimamente=, lately =únicamente=, solely, only
EXERCISE 1 (19).
Translate into English--
1. Nos dirigimos á Vs. por informes sobre la casa cuyo (whose) nombre aparece en el boletín adjunto.
2. Se aplicaron á la industria azucarera y consiguieron buenos resultados.
3. Me he acostumbrado á este trabajo.
4. Te has dedicado al comercio.
5. Tiene mucha opinión de sí (mismo).
6. Cuenta (he relies) consigo únicamente.
7. Se debe pensar á sí y también á los otros.
8. Estos tejidos se llaman "uniones."
9. Las dos casas se escriben[87] en francés.
10. Estos tornos y estas sierras mecánicas (these lathes and sawing machines) se mueven por motor eléctrico.
11. Se los ha perfeccionado mucho últimamente.
12. ¿Se envían las máquinas en secciones?
13. Sí, Señor, y se las marca cuidadosamente para facilitar el montaje.
14. Se dice que llegaron grandes partidas de Cebada y Avena, ¿piensa V. que influirán en los precios?
15. Así se cree.
16. Entonces resultará (or resultará pues) alguna ventaja para los consumidores (consumers).
17. No puedo tacharme de imprevidencia (want of foresight) por no haberme abastecido (supplied, stocked) á tiempo, pues (because) carecía de los recursos necesarios para hacerlo (to do so).
[Footnote 87: Reflexive Pronouns in the plural are also Reciprocal.]
EXERCISE 2 (20).
Translate into Spanish--
1. I flatter myself that you will be pleased with (le gustarán) my purchases seeing (visto) the firmness of prices at present.
2. We consider ourselves lucky (dichosos de) not to have listened to their advice (consejo).
3. He is always speaking of himself and of his business.
4. He found himself a loser (á perder).
5. They declared themselves bankrupts (they filed their petition in bankruptcy).
6. They wrote to each other often.
7. He respects himself.
8. He himself respects old customs.
9. We acknowledge we are wrong.
10. We acknowledge receipt of your favour (acusamos recibo de).
11. We shall gratefully acknowledge (agradeceremos infinito) any help you may render (preste) to our friend.
12. We hope you will be very accurate in your figures.
13. The output (producto) for the first two months of the current year was 18,668 lbs. dry rubber.
14. The bill market (los cambios) was very firm to-day but there was little doing (poco se hizo).
15. Dealers were reluctant (se mostraron contrarios) to do business in the securities.
16. Rubber shares were lifeless (muy desanimadas), but prices were maintained (se mantuvieron).
LESSON XI. (Lección décima primera.)
POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES AND PRONOUNS.
A Possessive Adjective _accompanies a noun_; a Possessive pronoun _stands for a noun_.
The =Possessive Adjectives= are--
+-------------------------+----------------------------+ |Mi (_m._ & _f., sing._) |my | |Mis (_m._ & _f., plu._) |my | |Tu (_m._ & _f., sing._) |thy | |Tus (_m._ & _f., plu._) |thy | |Su (_m._ & _f., sing._) |his, her, its, one's, their,| | | your, (_polite_) | |Sus (_m._ & _f., plu._) |his, her, its, one's, their,| | | your, (_polite_) | |Nuestro-a, os-a |our | |Vuestro-a, os-as |your (_familiar_) | +-------------------------+----------------------------+
EXAMPLES--
Mi embarque: My shipment. Nuestro arreglo: Our arrangement. Su sinceridad: His, her, or their sincerity. Tu beneficio: Thy benefit. Sus fondos: His funds, capital.
_De él, de ella, de ellos, de V._, etc., may be added for the sake of clearness, but are not needed when the sense is clear without them.[88]
In the 3rd person (but not in the 1st and 2nd) instead of "su ... de él," "su ... de V.," etc., we may say "el ... de él," "el ... de V.," etc.
[Footnote 88: "De V." is added also for politeness ("V." being a title in itself--your grace).]
The =Possessive Pronouns= are--
El mío, la mía, los míos, las mías (mine). El tuyo, la tuya, los tuyos, las tuyas (thine). El suyo, la suya, los suyos, las suyas (his, hers, theirs, yours, _polite_). El nuestro, la nuestra, los nuestros, las nuestras (ours). El vuestro, la vuestra, los vuestros, las vuestras (yours _familiar_).
The Possessive Pronoun must be preceded by the definite article except when it follows the verb "to be" ("Ser") and ownership is asserted.
EXAMPLES--
Su casa es más importante que la mía: His firm is more important than mine.
V. ha acabado su trabajo, pero yo no he principiado el mío: You have finished your work, but I have not started mine.
Estos títulos y acciones son míos: These bonds and shares are mine (viz., belong to me).[89]
[Footnote 89: If the intention is only _to distinguish_ between one object and another the article is maintained; as, Estas son mis acciones, _aquellas_ son las de V. (these are my shares, _those_ are yours).]
=Possessive Adjectives Emphatic=. If any emphasis is placed on the possessive adjectives, the forms of the possessive pronouns are used, _following the noun_, as--
Quiero la maleta mía y no la de su amigo: I want _my_ portmanteau, not your friend's.
"A friend of mine," "a customer of yours" will be translated "un amigo de los míos," "un cliente de los suyos," or also "un amigo mío," "un cliente suyo," without the preposition _de_.
The Possessive Pronoun preceded by the neuter article =lo= denotes "property in general," as--
Lo mío (mine--that which is mine). Lo nuestro (ours--that which belongs to us). Lo suyo _or_ lo propio (one's own property). Lo ajeno (other people's property (that which belongs to others)).