Part 1
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SPANISH COMPOSITION
BY
EDITH J. BROOMHALL CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS MINNESOTA
ALLYN AND BACON BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO ATLANTA SAN FRANCISCO
COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY EDITH J. BROOMHALL.
Norwood Press J. S. Cushing Co.--Berwick & Smith Co. Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.
PREFACE
This book aims to teach Spanish idiom. The greatest hindrance to the use of idiomatic Spanish lies in the failure to realize that common English words have various Spanish meanings.
To meet this difficulty, the notes and exercises of _Spanish Composition_ are focused on the errors beginners most frequently make. For instance, attention is drawn to the fact that words like _up_, _down_, _out_, _in_, _away_ are usually included in the Spanish verb, which is often entirely different from the English expression. Thus, while "to get" is _obtener_, "to get up" is _levantarse_.
Of course the treatment cannot be exhaustive, but enough examples are given to show the pupil the necessity of _thinking_ before translating even the commonest words and phrases. The aim has been to give a simple and specific discussion of everyday expressions rather than to try to cover the entire field of Spanish idiom.
About two hundred and fifty quotations from famous Spanish authors illustrate the various idioms and acquaint the learner with the great names of Spanish literature.
I wish to express my hearty thanks to Dr. Harry Kurz of Carleton College, and to my colleagues in the Minneapolis High Schools, Señor Fernando García and Señor Julius Arrieta, who have read the work either in manuscript or in proof.
EDITH J. BROOMHALL.
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA. January, 1921.
CONTENTS
PAGE
LESSON I. English _to be_ 1
LESSON II. The verb _to ask_ 4 English _for_ 5
LESSON III. The verb _to have_ 7 English _to be to_ 8
LESSON IV. English _since_ 10 The verb _to go_ 10
LESSON V. English _long_ 13 The word _before_ 14 The verb _to know_ 14
LESSON VI. English _to get_ 16
LESSON VII. Review exercises 19
LESSON VIII. The verb _to look_ or _look at_ 20 English _little_ 20 English _there_ 21
LESSON IX. The verb _to grow_ 23 The word _just_ 23
LESSON X. English _after_ 26 The verb _to help_ 27
LESSON XI. English _here_ 29 English _well_ 29 The verb _to hold_ 30
LESSON XII. The adverb _so_ 32 English _to keep_ 33
LESSON XIII. Review exercises 35
LESSON XIV. English _to leave_ 37 _To let_ 38
LESSON XV. English _now_ 40 English _about_ 41 _To be about to_ 41 The verb _to feel_ 41
LESSON XVI. English _will_ 43 The word _all_ 43
LESSON XVII. The word _way_ 46 The adjective _hard_ 47 The verb _to give_ 47
LESSON XVIII. The verb _to think_ 49 The verb _to make_ 49
LESSON XIX. The verb _to miss_ 52 Emphasis in Spanish 52
LESSON XX. Review exercises 55
LESSON XXI. English _time_ 57 The verb _to like_ 58
LESSON XXII. _Very_ as an adverb 60 The verb _to play_ 61 The verb _to need_ 61
LESSON XXIII. The verb _to please_ 63 The verb _to mean_ 64 _Without_ 64
LESSON XXIV. The word _only_ 66 _Alone, single_ 67 The verb _to hear_ 67
LESSON XXV. English _right_ 69 English _must_ 70
LESSON XXVI. The verb _to appear_ 72 The verb _to succeed_ 72 The word _even_ 73 _Toward_ 73
LESSON XXVII. Review exercises 75
LESSON XXVIII. The verb _to sit_ 77 _To stand_ 77 English _corner_ 78
LESSON XXIX. English _self_ 80 _Last_ 80 The verb _to tell_ 81
LESSON XXX. _To save_ 83 _To see_ 83 _Half_ 84
LESSON XXXI. The word _as_ 86
LESSON XXXII. The verb _to want_ 89 _Either, or_ 89 _Neither_ 90 _Because_ 90
LESSON XXXIII. The verb _to wonder_ 92 _The one_ 93
LESSON XXXIV. Review exercises 95
LESSON XXXV. The verb _to take_ 97
LESSON XXXVI. The word _ever_ 100 The verb _to pass_ 100 The verb _to pay_ or _pay for_ 101
LESSON XXXVII. The verb _to turn_ 103
LESSON XXXVIII. English _can_ and _could_ 106 _To ring_ 107 English _but_ 107
LESSON XXXIX. The verb _to put_ 109
LESSON XL. _To strike_ 112 Spanish vez meaning _time_ 112 The verb _to start_ 113
LESSON XLI. The verb _to do_ 115 Adverbial expressions 115
LESSON XLII. Review exercises 118
APPENDIX 121
SPANISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY 1
ENGLISH-SPANISH VOCABULARY 19
AUTHORS QUOTED
CERVANTES _Don Quijote_
ECHEGARAY _El Poder de la Impotencia_, _Siemore en Ridículo_, _El Hijo de Don Juan_
GIL Y ZÁRATE _Guzmán el Bueno_
CAMPOAMOR _Poems_
CASTELAR _Recuerdos y Esperanzas_
ALARCÓN _El Capitán Veneno_, Short Stories
PÉREZ GALDÓS _Electra_, _Celia en los Infiernos_
PARDO BAZÁN _La Piedra Angular_, Short Stories
VALERA _Pepita Jiménez_
BENAVENTE _La Princesa Bebé_, _La Malquerida_, _El Collar de Estrellas_
PALACIO VALDÉS _José_, _La Hermana San Sulpicio_
EDUARDO MARQUINA _El Rey Trovador_
MARTÍNEZ SIERRA _Teatro de Ensueño_
LOS QUINTERO _Malvaloca_, _Doña Clarines_, _Manana de Sol_, _Los Galeotes_
ESCRICH _Fortuna_
DE LARRA _Partir a Tiempo_
BLASCO IBAÑEZ _Los Cuatro Jinetes del Apocalipse_
JOSÉ MÁRMOL _Amalia_
RAMOS CARRIÓN _Zaragüeta_, _La Muela del Juicio_
SPANISH COMPOSITION
LESSON I
_El trabajo es buen compañero de la esperanza._[1]
--MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
=1.= English _to be_ is generally translated into Spanish by =ser= or =estar=, the former with the general idea of permanency, the latter indicating temporary state. Location is _always_ expressed by =estar=.
_I, who was white, am also brown, because the sun has kissed me._
=Yo, que era blanca, estoy también morena, porque el sol me ha besado.=--MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
(_a_) In expressions referring to the weather _to be_ is rendered by =hacer=, _to make_, the descriptive adjective becoming in Spanish a noun of corresponding meaning.
_It was suffocatingly hot._
=Hacía un calor sofocante.=--PALACIO VALDÉS.
_It was very cold in the city to-day._
=Hacía mucho frío hoy en la ciudad.=
_Note._--In all such expressions _very_ must be translated =mucho=, since =calor=, =frío=, etc., are nouns.
(_b_) When used with a predicate adjective indicating mental or physical state, _to be_ is translated by =tener=, the adjective changing to a noun of corresponding meaning.
The commonest of these expressions are _to be hungry_, _thirsty_, _hot_, _cold_, _sleepy_, _afraid_, _right_, _careful_, _jealous_, which are rendered =tener hambre=, =sed=, =calor=, =frío=, =sueño=, =miedo=, =razón=, =cuidado=, =celos=.
_Uncle is right. That can't hurt him._
=Tiene razón el tío. Eso no puede hacerle mal.=--RAMOS CARRIÓN.
_While I am so cold I don't want to go out._
=Mientras tengo tanto frío no quiero salir.=
_I wasn't hungry but I was very sleepy._
=No tenía hambre pero tenía mucho sueño.=
_Note._--In all similar expressions _so_ is rendered =tanto=. Cf. note to (_a_) above.
(_c_) Many phrases consisting of the verb _to be_ and an adjective denoting age or dimension are translated by =tener= and a noun. Such are _to be old_, _wide_, _long_, _high_, etc., rendered =tener edad=, =anchura=, =longitud=, =altitud=. Note also _to be to blame_, _one's fault_, =tener la culpa=; _to be successful_, =tener éxito=.
_How old are these children?_
=¿Qué edad tienen estos niños?=
_The ribbon is two inches wide._
=La cinta tiene dos pulgadas de anchura.=
(_d_) _To be at_ meaning _to attend_ is translated =asistir a=.
_There were not many at the meeting last night._
=No asistían muchos a la reunión de anoche.=
(_e_) _To be worth_ is translated =valer=. _To be worth while_ is =valer la pena=.
_I don't know how much it is and it isn't worth while to ask._
=No sé cuanto vale y no vale la pena de preguntar.=
=2.= =EXERCISES=
(_a_) 1. Hacía tanto calor que no podíamos dormir aunque teníamos mucho sueño. 2. Ya no tenemos miedo de nada. 3. Dice que tiene mucho frío. 4. Nos preguntaron si teníamos hambre. 5. Usted cree que este hombre tiene razón. Pues yo creo que no la tiene. 6. La mesa tiene cuatro pies de longitud y tres de anchura. 7. Yo no tengo la culpa de que no asistieron al teatro anoche. 8. Dígale que tendré mucho gusto en aceptar su amable invitación y asistir al concierto. 9. Ha hecho tanto frío hoy como si fuéramos en el mes de diciembre. 10. Estoy seguro de que usted tendrá mucho éxito.
(_b_) 1. Don't be afraid of the dog. He will not bite you. 2. How wide is this river? 3. If you are so hungry, why don't you eat? 4. Is it my fault that they are not here yet? 5. It is too cold in this room. Close the door. 6. The living-room is longer than the dining-room, but it is not so wide. 7. I don't feel like (_am not desirous of_) studying to-night. 8. I wasn't at school the day that the President visited it. 9. I gave him the money although I knew that the thing wasn't worth it. 10. It is cool to-day. It was so warm yesterday.
LESSON II
_El día es para trabajar, por eso hay luz._[2]
--TOMAYO Y BAUS.
3. The verb _to ask_ has five common translations. Meaning _to question_ or _to inquire_ it is rendered =preguntar=.
_"Are you asleep, Captain?" the widow asked, greatly alarmed._
=¿Duerme Vd., Capitán?--le preguntó muy alarmada la viuda.=--PEDRO DE ALARCÓN.
_A girl came to the door asking for him._
=Vino a la puerta una muchacha preguntando por él.=--LOS QUINTERO.
(_a_) _To ask for_, _beg_, is translated =pedir a=.
_He had slipped into the kitchen to ask the cook for something to eat._
=Se había deslizado en la cocina para pedir algo que comer a la cocinera.=--BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
_Note._--With =pedir= the thing asked for is the direct object, the person of whom it is asked is the indirect, and is introduced by =a=. Cf. English, "We begged a dollar from father."
(_b_) _To ask_ in the sense of _to request_ is rendered by =pedir= or =rogar=, the latter being the more formal. Both verbs require the subjunctive in the dependent verb.
_I asked the children not to make so much noise._
=Pedí a los niños que no hiciesen tanto ruido.=
_I asked Mr. Blanco to come and see me._
=Le rogué al señor Blanco que me viniese a ver (a visitar).=
(_c_) _To ask_, _invite_ is rendered =convidar= or =invitar=.
_They have asked us to dinner._
=Nos han convidado (invitado) a comer con ellos.=
(_d_) _To ask questions_ is rendered =hacer preguntas=.
_And finally he asked himself the same question, wondering that it had not occurred to him before._
=Y por fin se hizo la misma pregunta, extrañando que no se le hubiera ocurrido antes la idea.=--BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
=4.= English _for_ as a preposition is rendered by =para= or =por=. It is omitted before a non-emphatic personal pronoun object and after many verbs.
_He bought it for me yesterday._
=Me lo compró ayer.=
_He bought it for me_ (for my sake).
=Lo compró por mí.===
_Wait for me._
=Espéreme.=
_Ask for it._
=Pídalo.=
_Look for them._
=Búsquelos.=
(_a_) _For_ is rendered =para= when it expresses destination, purpose, use, future time, and to introduce a qualifying phrase.
_This is the train for Madrid._
=Este es el tren para Madrid.=
_She has enough money for her clothes._
=Tiene bastante dinero para sus vestidos (prendas de vestir).=
_This is a machine for cutting leather._
=Ésta es una máquina para cortar cuero.=
_I have an appointment for to-morrow._
=Tengo cita para mañana.=
_She plays the piano well for her age._
=Toca el piano bien para su edad.=
(_b_) Expressing exchange, cause, motive, or duration of time, _for_ is rendered =por=.
_I gave him twenty-five dollars for his bicycle._
=Le dí veinticinco duros por su bicicleta.=
_For months at a time we did not see him._
=Por meses enteros no le habíamos visto.=
_They set fire to the house for fun._
=Por burla pegaron fuego a la casa.=
_We could not see the house for the smoke._
=No podíamos ver la casa por el humo.=
=5.= =EXERCISES=
(_a_) 1. La señora pregunta por la señorita. 2. Ruéguele que me lo mande. 3. Pídame Vd. todo lo que quiera. 4. ¿Cuándo parte Vd. para Europa? 5. Para su edad es un muchacho muy intelligente. 6. No sé contestar a todas las preguntas que me hacen estos chicos. 7. Le dí mi gramática española por su libro de lectura. 8. Para el almuerzo he comprado tocino. 9. Lo hace todo por sus hermanos y no saben agradecérselo. 10. Murió por la patria como yo muriera por ella.
(_b_) 1. I shall ask them to come and see me in the country. 2. I promised my mother that I would ask you for some of your beautiful roses. 3. Ask the children if they are hungry. 4. I will ask his mother to ask him for it. 5. Shall we ask them to dinner for the day after to-morrow? 6. Will you wait for me while I look for it? (For _will you_ say =Quiere Vd.=) 7. This is the book father bought for me in London. 8. It is a beautiful book for the price. 9. If it wasn't for the dust, we could see the horses. 10. Some friends have asked me to go to the theater with them this evening. 11. In Spanish they call a typewriter a "machine for writing." 12. They will sing for joy when they receive this news.
LESSON III
_Cada uno es como Dios le ha criado._[3]
--PEDRO DE ALARCÓN.
=6.= The verb _to have_ denoting possession is rendered =tener=. With auxiliary force it is =haber=.
_I used to have it, but I have it no longer._
=Lo tenía sí, pero ya no lo tengo más.=
_He says he has sold it, but I don't know who has bought it._
=Dice que lo ha vendido, pero no sé quien lo ha comprado.=
(_a_) _To have_ meaning _to cause to be done_ or _made_, _let_, is rendered by =hacer= followed (1) by a direct infinitive, or (2) by =que= with the subjunctive of indirect command.
_Have them get the trunks down at once._
=Hágales bajar los baúles en seguida= or =Haga Vd. que bajen los baúles.=
_I like this book very much. I will have the children read it._
=Me gusta mucho este libro. Haré que lo lean los niños.=
_He has had a new house built for his newly married daughter._
=Ha hecho construir una nueva casa para su hija recién casada.=
(_b_) _To have to_ denoting necessity or compulsion is translated =tener que=, which is followed by the infinitive.
_It is raining torrents. We shall have to stay here till it stops._
=Llueve a cántaros. Tendremos que quedarnos aquí hasta que deje de llover.=
_I can't go with you because I have to study some lessons._
=No puedo acompañarle porque tengo que estudiar unas lecciones.=
(_c_) _To have on_, _be wearing_, is rendered =tener puesto=, or by =llevar= or =vestir=. =Puesto= is an adjective and agrees in gender and number with the thing worn.
_She has on a simple dress and over her shoulders a wide black lace scarf._
=Viste un traje sencillo y trae sobre los hombros un amplio velo negro de encaje.=--LOS QUINTERO.
_They all had their hats on when they came out._
=Al salir todos tenían puestos los sombreros.=
=7.= English _to be to_ expressing futurity coupled with a vague necessity is rendered =haber de= followed by the infinitive.
_I have read in the papers that the president is to visit the city._
=He leído en los diarios que el presidente ha de visitar la ciudad.=
_The teacher told us that we were to finish that lesson._
=El maestro nos dijo que hubiéramos de acabar aquella lección.=
=8.= =EXERCISES=
(_a_) 1. Aquel día había de ser glorioso para el país. 2. Yo quiero que nadie tenga noticia de nuestra conferencia. 3. Quien lo haya quebrado tendrá que remendarlo. 4. Me había ido, pero he vuelto porque tengo que hablarle a Vd. 5. Pues ya no has de ver más a Paquita. Ella se casa. 6. Lo compré esta mañana y han de entregármelo mañana. 7. Tengo que subir al palomar para dar de comer a mis palomitas. 8. Ha mandado hacer un vestido nuevo para su hijita. 9. Celebro tener el gusto de conocer a Vd. 10. Tengo una viva satisfacción en haber conocido a Vd. 11. Dígales Vd. que me traigan pronto lo que les he pedido. 12. Tendrán que acostarse en cuanto lleguen.
(_b_) 1. This strap is good for nothing (_worth nothing_). I had it in my hand and it broke. 2. The trunks will have to be at the station at three o'clock. 3. What dress are you going to wear on the train? The one that I have on. 4. Have a new strap made when you return. 5. We are to wait for them here. They have gone to look for the others. 6. The teacher had the pupil read the lesson aloud. 7. You will have to go with us because we don't know the way. 8. She had on a pair of white gloves that I had given her. 9. I am to tell her that he has broken the whip that she had made for him for his birthday. 10. I will have the letter written at once.
LESSON IV
_Puesto que todo pasa, gocémoslo todo mientras vive._[4]
--MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
=9.= The English _since_ as a preposition is translated =desde=; as an adverb it is rendered =desde entonces= or =desde aquel tiempo=, literally, _since then_ and _since that time_. As a conjunction of time it is =desde que=, and as a conjunction of cause it is =ya que=, =puesto que=, or =visto que= (cf. English _seeing that_).
_I have not seen him since yesterday._
=No le he visto desde ayer.=
_He left the city last year and I have not seen him since._
=Partió de la ciudad el año pasado y no le he visto desde entonces.=
_I have not seen him since he left the city._
=No le he visto desde que partió de la ciudad.=
_I will speak to him once more since you desire it._
=Le hablaré una vez más ya que Vd. lo desea.=--LOS QUINTERO.
=10.= The verb _to go_ is =ir= or =irse=, the reflexive form being used when _to be_ is not followed by a complementary infinitive or by a prepositional phrase denoting direction. _To go away_ may be translated =irse=, =marcharse=, or =partir=.
_Now I am going to explain it to you._
=Ya se lo voy a explicar.=
_I am going now. Do you want to go with me?_
=Ya me voy. ¿Quiere Vd. acompañarme?=
_We are going to the country to spend a few days._
=Vamos al campo a pasar unos pocos días.=
(_a_) _To go in_ or _into_, _up_, _down_, _through_, are translated =entrar= (=en=), =subir=, =bajar=, =pasar por=, the preposition being included in the meaning of the verb except that =en= and =por= are used with =entrar= and =pasar= when the object of the verb is expressed.
_Did you go into the house? Yes, we went in. We also went upstairs and went through all the rooms._
=¿Entraron Vds. en la casa? Sí, entramos. También subimos la escalera y pasamos por todas las habitaciones.=
(_b_) _To go out_ has two translations, =salir=, _to leave_, and =apagarse=, _to be extinguished_.
_They have all gone out to take a walk._
=Todos han salido a dar un paseo.=
_All of a sudden all the lights in the house went out._
=De repente se apagaron todas las luces en la casa.=
(_c_) _To go on_, _continue_, is rendered =continuar= or =seguir=.
_He went on talking as if he had not seen me._
=Siguió= (=continuó=) =hablando como si no me hubiera visto.=
(_d_) _To go to bed_ is rendered =acostarse=; _to go to sleep_, =dormirse=.
_I can't go to sleep when I go to bed so early._
=No puedo dormirme cuando me acuesto tan temprano.=