Subiendo por esta calle llegarás al parque. (see 51.3)
If you go up this street you will get to the park.
Aun teniendo en cuenta lo que acabas de decir, no puedo darte más
dinero.
Even taking into account what you’ve just said, I can’t give you any more
money.
NOTE The Spanish gerund is not used:
- to translate English adjectives ending in ‘-ing’:
‘an interesting book’ un libro interesante
‘a boring lesson’ una clase aburrida
- as a verbal noun (see 17.11):
I like drawing. me gusta dibujar.
17.13 Imperative
The imperative is used to give commands and instructions. It is generally rather brusque,
and it is more polite to use an alternative form. The vosotros plural form (which is
not used in Latin America) is often replaced by the infinitive, which has the additional
advantage of not specifying a person, and so being neutral between polite and familiar
address. The first peson plural imperative (nosotros form) is most frequently replaced
by vamos a+ infinitive in speech (see 20.2), and the first person plural imperative of ir
itself is usually vamos.
67–69 (pp. 375–385)
Dale un besito a papá.
Give daddy a kiss.
Déselo a él.
Give it to him.
¡Escuchad!
Listen!
¡Vengan todos!
All of you come!
Traducir al español...
Translate into Spanish...
Comencemos por preguntar...
Let’s begin by asking...
Vamos a empezar con el capítulo 20.
Let’s begin at Chapter 20.
¡Vámonos!
Let’s go!
17.13
Imperative
