Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)
Chapter 9
N.B.--(_a_) If the 2nd verb should have the same subject, use the Infinitive Mood, as--
Deseo que venga: I wish him to come. Deseo venir: I wish to come.
(_b_) After verbs expressing joy, shame, sorrow, or fear, the Indicative may be used instead of the Subjunctive.
(_c_) After "mandar" (to order) the subordinate verb is often in the Infinitive instead of the Subjunctive, as--
Mándele V. que lo haga: Order him to do it. Mándeselo V. hacer: Order him to do it.
VOCABULARY.
=agradar, favorecer=, to oblige =almacenero, dependiente de almacén=, warehouseman =celebrar=, to be glad of =colorido=, colouring =*complacer=, to oblige =complazco, etc=., I oblige, etc. =(el) cortapluma=, penknife =cortésmente=, politely =coste flete y seguro=, cost, freight and insurance =*dar las gracias=, to hank =demora=, delay =*demostrar confianza=, to show confidence =deplorar=, to deplore =dictados=, dictates =en seguida=, at once =franco de avería particular=, free of particular average =*hacer una remesa=, to send a remittance =intereses=, interests =justificarse=, to justify oneself =mucho=, much, exceedingly, greatly =navajas de afeitar=, razors =obrar=, to act =patines=, skates =primer dependiente=, chief clerk =propio=, own =*rogar=, to beg, to request =ruego, etc=., I beg, etc. =sin novedad=, safe and sound =tela para pantalones=, trousering =tijeras=, scissors
EXERCISE 1 (45).
Translate into English--
1. En nuestra anterior les rogámos[143] nos enviasen una muestra de las telas de nuestros competidores.
2. Celebraremos mucho que encuentren ventaja en el cambio de vía (route) que hemos adoptado para sus envíos.
3. Siento haber hecho este error y siento también que mi primer dependiente no me lo haya hecho observar.
4. Me avergüenzo que por culpa de un dependiente de almacén negligente haya recibido V. un género por otro (the wrong goods).
5. Nunca me avergüenzo de hablar á las claras (openly, clearly).
6. No podemos ni deberíamos querer impedir á los otros que piensen como quieran; lo que sí debemos hacer es aconsejar á todos que obren según los dictados de su propia conciencia.
7. Lo que me esté bien (is my duty) hacer lo haré.
8. Espero me mande pronto los coloridos para las telas para pantalones.
9. Deploro que él quiera justificarse con argumentos que se quiebran de sutiles (which do not stand the light of day).
10. Explícate para que te entienda.
11. No te justifiques con malas razones (by quibbling).
12. Explíqueme V. de que se trata (what it is about).
13. No le explique V. más de lo necesario.
[Footnote 143: The 1st pers. plural Past Definite of the 1st Conjugation may take an accent to distinguish it from the Present Indicative.]
EXERCISE 2 (46).
Translate into Spanish--
1. We should like to do more business with your firm.
2. You would greatly oblige (us) by sending us a remittance.
3. He would do well to write it to them.
4. Let him write at once.
5. We hope you may arrive safe and sound, and we advise you to take care of yourself.
6. From what we can gather (por lo que tenemos entendido) the firm is doing a successful (buenos) business.
7. We trust this information will be of service (de utilidad) to you.
8. The documents appear to be in order and we hope there will be no difficulty.
9. We are glad the goods have arrived before the time stipulated (estipulado).
10. We do not want you to lose any money; on the contrary, we wish you to realise a substantial (buena) profit.
11. Tell the clerk to write more politely.
12. Order them to do it quickly.
13. I may come (es posible que venga) to-morrow.
14. We notice (observamos) that the Razors, Scissors, Penknives and Skates are ready to be shipped, and trust (confiamos) that, as announced (nos anunciaron Vs.), they will come to hand (llegaran á manos) without delay.
15. We thank you for the confidence you have shown in us which we hope to justify and you may be sure that we shall do our best for (por) your interests.
16. I request you kindly to insure the cargo against total loss or f.p.a.[144]
17. Sell at 21s. c.i.f.[145]
[Footnote 144: Free of particular average.]
[Footnote 145: Cost, insurance, freight.]
LESSON XXIV. (Lección vigésima cuarta.)
THE SUBJUNCTIVE MOOD (_contd._).
II. The Subjunctive Mood is used after Impersonal verbs, as
Es menester que lo haga: It is needful that he does it. Es necesario que lo haga: It is necessary that he does it.
EXCEPTIONS--
1. When the Impersonal Verb expresses certainty, as--
Es cierto que lo hará: It is certain that he will do it.
2. When the dependent verb has not its own subject, both the following constructions are correct--
Es necesario hacerlo: It must be done Es necesario que se haga: It must be done
III. The Subjunctive Mood is used after the following locations---
Antes que (before) En caso que (in case) De miedo que (lest) Por más que (however much, although) Sin que (without) Para que (so that) Á menos que (unless) Salvo que (except that) Con tal que (provided that) Sea que (whether ... or) Aunque (even if)
IV. The Subjunctive Mood is generally used after the following locations, when the action refers to future time, but the Indicative is used when the action refers to the past or present--
Después que (after) Aunque (although) De modo que (so that) No obstante que (notwithstanding) Cuandoquiera que (whenever) Hasta que (until) Luego que (as soon as) Quienquiera que (whoever) Comoquiera que (however) Cualquiera que (whichever, whoever) Dondequiera que (wherever) El 1°, 2°, 3°, etc., que (the 1st 2nd 3rd, etc., that) El único que (the only one that) El solo que (the only one that) El último que (the last that) Nada que (nothng that) Ninguo, nadie que (no one that) El mejor (or any other superlative) que (the best etc., that)
E.g.--
Escribió de modo que su padre quedó contento: He wrote so that his father remained content.
Escriba V. de modo que su padre quede contento: Write so that your father may remain content.
Le pagué aunque no hizo su trabajo: I paid him, although he did not do his work.
No le pagaré aunque haga su trabajo: I shall not pay him although he may do his work.
The above rules have liberties and exceptions to be learnt by practice, generally turning on whether the action is intended to be alluded to =as a fact= or as =a mere conception=.
V. The Subjunctive Mood is used after _cuando, así como, luego que_ and similar expressions when the action of the verb refers =to the future=, as--
Lo haré cuando tenga tiempo: I shall do it when I have time.
N.B.--The Future Subjunctive is often used in this case.
VI. The Subjunctive Mood is used after _si_ (conditional _if_) when the context requires the following verb in the past form, as--
Lo haría si tuviese (tuviera) dinero: I should do it if I had money.
N.B.--If the context requires the verb in the present form, the Indicative Present must be used, as--
Lo hago si tengo tiempo: I do it if I have time.
Lo haré si tengo tiempo: I shall do it if I have time.
When, as in the latter example a future time is indicated, the Future Subjunctive may be used instead of the Pres. Indicative, as--
Lo haré si tuviere tiempo: I shall do it if (ever) I have time.
VII. After _como_ the Subjunctive Mood is used idiomatically but not necessarily, as--
Como le vió le habló: As soon as he saw him he spoke to him.
Como le viese le habló: On seeing him he spoke to him.
VIII. After _creer, pensar, opinar,_ and similar verbs, the following verb is generally in the Indicative; but after _no creer,_ etc., the verb is in the Subjunctive mood. After _creer,_ etc., used interrogatively, the verb may be Indicative or Subjunctive.
VOCABULARY.
=abacá=, Manilla hemp =calcetines=, half-hose, socks =cáñamo=, hemp =cancelar=, to cancel =coger=, to catch *=conseguir=, to succeed in =contado (al)=, (in) cash =dificultad=, difficulty =un dineral=, a mint of money =encogerse=, to shrink =equivocarse=, to be mistaken =la gente=, the people =mecanismo=, mechanism, contrivance =medias=, stockings, hose =ocurrir=, to happen =perfeccionar=, to perfect =persona=, person =por mas que=, however much, whatever *=probar=, to prove, to attempt, to try =pruebo, etc=., I try, etc. *=reconvenir=, to reprimand =repasar=, to look over *=saber=, to know =se, sabes, sabe, etc=., I know, etc. =sepa, sepas, sepa, etc=., I may know, *=ser menester=, to be necessary =telefonear=, to telephone =trabajo=, work =yute=, jute
EXERCISE 1 (47).
Translate into English--
1. Es conveniente (proper) y aun absolutamente necesario que se acabe esta cuestión.
2. Es cierto que se acabará.
3. Es posible que suba el mercado; tal vez suba más de lo que se crea.
4. Es el único cliente que no haya pagado su factura.
5. Es menester pues escribirle y apremiarle para que cumpla con su deber (to fulfil his duty).
6. Antes que escriba V., repase sus libros para que no haya miedo de que haya ocurrido alguna equivocación (mistake).
7. Á menos que pague le citaremos ante los Tribunales (we shall summon him) de miedo que otros sean pagados con nuestro dinero.
8. Por más que V. diga, las medias, calcetines, y guantes no son iguales á las muestras que sirvieron de base (as a basis) al contrato.
9. Sin que V. me lo diga lo haré, salvo que intervenga algun contratiempo (any hitch should happen) y con tal que, ínterin (in the meantime) llegue su remesa.
10. Sea que llegue, sea que no, V. debería hacerlo aunque le fuese en ello todo su capital (all your capital were at stake).
11. Telefonee V. cuando quiera.
12. Celebrare lo haga luego que le sea posible.
13. Así como sepa algo le telefoneare.
14. Enviaría las zarazas si estuviese seguro que no me viniera (_imp. subj._ of venir) después con quejas.
15. No creo que cueste muy cara esta seda.
16. No me parece que salio ventajosa aquella transacción.
EXERCISE 2 (48).
Translate into Spanish--
1. It is impossible for us to obtain the goods.
2. He spoke as if he were sure of it.
3. I may (es posible que) accept your price, provided you pay cash.
4. It is certain the white shirtings have shrunk too much in bleaching (en el blanqueo).
5. He insisted until he paid him something and now he will continue to insist until he pays him something more.
6. The foreign correspondent (el corresponsal de lenguas extranjeras) did his work so that his employer was satisfied.
7. Write clearly so that people may read your writing (su letra) without difficulty.
8. Whenever I spoke to him he was very polite, therefore, I shall put (diré) a word in his favour whenever I can do so.
9. I reprimanded him notwithstanding that he was my son, and I shall do so whenever it is necessary in spite of his being now a man.
10. The first to come was the office-boy (muchacho, hortera [joc.]), and he will be the last to go (á salir).
11. The first firm that attempts it will burn its fingers (se cogerá los dedos).
12. He was the only one who understood us.
13. He is not the only one who is mistaken.
14. They will not be the only persons who will be mistaken.
15. Whoever succeeds in perfecting this contrivance will be sure to make (es seguro que hará) a mint of money.
16. We shall be thankful if you will cancel our order for flax, hemp, Manilla hemp and jute.
LESSON XXV. (Lección vigésima quinta.)
THE TENSES.
The Tenses in Spanish being mostly used as in English, we shall only call attention to such of the principal differences between the two languages as have not yet been treated.
=Present--=
The English emphatic Present, "I do say," must be expressed by "Lo digo en efecto," "lo digo de veras," "lo digo sí."
"I do" with a verb understood after, as "Do you understand? I do" is translated by "Sí," "Sí, señor," or "Sí entiendo."
"Are you an engineer? Yes, I am"; "He is generous with me, and I am with him"; "He is my surety, and I am his"; must be translated by "Es V. ingeniero? Sí, lo soy"; "Es generoso conmigo y yo lo soy con él"; "Él es mi fiador y yo lo soy suyo."
=Past--=
The English language has one form of Simple Past--I wrote.
In Spanish this is translated by--
Yo escribía (Imperf. Indic.) or
Yo escribí (Past Definite), according to sense.
It is most important to learn the difference between the Imperfect Indicative and the Past Definite (or Preterite), because these two tenses admit of no compromise in Spanish.
The =Imperfect Indicative=[146] _describes_ an action or state which was _present_ when another past action took place, or another past state existed.
[Footnote 146: Or Descriptive Past.]
The =Past Definite= or =Preterite=[147] _narrates_ an event.[148]
[Footnote 147: Or Narrating Past (this is why it is often called the Historical Past).]
[Footnote 148: "Napoleon I died in 1821" is an event. "I fell" is grammatically also an event.]
Consequently, it will be understood that whilst the Past Def. refers to "one point of time" or "several =separate= points of time," the Imperfect embraces a whole indefinite period.
The following examples will show clearly the different functions of these two tenses--
Le escribí una vez (_or_ dos o tres veces) mientras él viajaba en Argentina: I wrote to him once (or two or three times) whilst he travelled[149] in Argentina.
[Footnote 149: Travelled--was travelling, but notice that in Spanish we would also have the progressive form--"estaba viajando."]
Encontré á Luis, quien llevaba levita negra: I met Louis, who wore[150] a black frock-coat.
[Footnote 150: Wore--was wearing. Here in Spanish the progressive form "estaba llevando" would not be admissible because there is _no real progressive action_.]
Hacía grandes negocios cuando residía en Chile: I had a large business when I resided in Chili.
Los Cartagineses eran un pueblo comercial y emprendedor: The Carthagenians were a commercial and enterprising people.
Él estaba allí cuando yo llegué: He was there when I arrived.
Él leía 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 día: 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 "solía":--"Solía trabajar 8 horas" (he used to work 8 hours).]
Cada mes recibiamos nuestro sueldo: Each month we received (used to receive) our pay.
Ayer cerré el contrato: Yesterday I signed the contract.
Las pipas de vino resultaron averiadas: The casks of wine were damaged.
Trabajé en Inglaterra 5 años[152]; Viví dos años 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."
VOCABULARY.
=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 =dátiles=, 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 ¡=ojo=! attention! =olvidar=, to forget =pasas de Corinto=, currants =podrido=, rotten =por decirlo así=, so to say, as it were *=querer decir=, to mean =recobrar=, to recover =reprensible=, objectionable =resumir=, to recapitulate, to state briefly =sinnúmero=, a large number, innumerable =travesía=, journey by sea
EXERCISE 1 (49).
Translate into English--
1. Cuando yo era más joven y me gustaba viajar, hacía la travesía de Liverpool á Las Palmas todos los años.
2. Estuve allí la última vez en 1905 principalmente para recobrar mi salud, pero como viaje de negocios también tuvo muy buen éxito.
3. No había entonces como la hay hoy en día tanta competencia en ese comercio.
4. Cuando llegó el buque á La Coruña había un sinnúmero de guardias aduaneras alerta, pues se decía que llevaba muchos géneros de contrabando.
5. ¿Qué quiere decir género de matute?
6. De matute es lo mismo que de contrabando y matutero ó contrabandista es el que introduce tales géneros.
7. No sabía esta palabra antes, pero ya no la olvidaré.
8. ¿Ha aprendido V. bien la diferencia entre el preterito y el imperfecto?
9. Perfectamente y voy á resumírsela en dos palabras--El uno es pasado, pasado y nada más, el otro es un presente de lo pasado por decirlo así; ¡mire V.! "Encontré á Carlos": pasado absoluto; "Llevaba sombrero blanco"; pasado _hoy_, presente _entonces_; ¿qué le parece á V.?
10. Me parece que V. ha dado en el clavo y estoy satisfecho.
11. Y ahora ¡ojo! en la aplicación y ¡no olvidar!
EXERCISE 2 (50).
Translate into Spanish--
1. I believe his behaviour is most (muy) objectionable.
2. And I do also.
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?
6. They are.
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 (hacía 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 (escribía _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. (Lección vigésima 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 año 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 había hablado" or "yo hube hablado."
"Yo había 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 declaré mis intenciones, se convenció--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--
Habrá 20 hombres aquí: I dare say there are 20 men here.
¿Le habré dado este derecho? Have I, perchance, given him this right?
¿Tendría 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 mañana: I shall be writing him to-morrow.
But--
Cuando él 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 diré 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 serviré si la ocasión 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 él lo haga: I want him to do it. Querré " " ": I shall want " "" Quiere tú " " ": 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--
Habré querido que trabaje hoy o mañana: I shall have (may have) wanted him to work to-day or to-morrow.
VOCABULARY.
=*adquirir=, to acquire =alquilar=, to rent, to hire, to take or give on lease =arado=, plough =boni cación, rebaja=, allowance =cargar=, to charge =ceder=, to yield, to sell, to cede, to warrant make over =cédula de aduana=, custom house =colmo=, climax, record =color firme, sólido=, fast colour =contrarrestar=, to check =de otra manera=, otherwise =desarrollar=, to develop =empréstito=, loan =época=, 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
EXERCISE 1 (51).
Translate into English--
1. Le he dado ayer las Cédulas de Aduana.
2. Le hemos cedido el traspaso de aquel negocio por £500.
3. Le he dicho que los fondos (stocks), obligaciones, ú otros valores cualesquiera (whatsoever) han de depositarse en manos seguras.