Confusion over when definite article use is necessaryI just completed a translation exercise which included the following sentence:
"... we see the fireworks and we receive gifts from Father Christmas."
I translated the sentence as follows: "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos regalos desde Papá Noel". Kwiziq indicated that the correct translation should have been "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos los regalos de Papá noel."
I have two question about this:
1) Why was it necessary to insert "los" in front of "regalos"? I do not understand fully the rule of when the definite articles (singular or plural) must be used. As you can see, I inserted it when "the" was included before "fireworks" in the English translation, but omitted "los" when "the" was not included before "gifts" in the English translation. Again, what's the rule on this? When I practice the writing exercises seems use of articles is hit and miss.
2) I am confused about why "de" was used as translation of "from" instead of "desde". Seems "regalos de Papá Noel" would translate in English to Santa Claus's gifts. Please explain.
Thank you!
Pati Ecuamiga.
2nd paragraph: Is there a lesson that discusses "que" used to mean "to be?"
I searched on "que" and got 1620 hits, so I scanned the first 60 and did not see "que" and "to be" in any lesson title.
I just completed a translation exercise which included the following sentence:
"... we see the fireworks and we receive gifts from Father Christmas."
I translated the sentence as follows: "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos regalos desde Papá Noel". Kwiziq indicated that the correct translation should have been "... vemos los fuegos artificiales y recibimos los regalos de Papá noel."
I have two question about this:
1) Why was it necessary to insert "los" in front of "regalos"? I do not understand fully the rule of when the definite articles (singular or plural) must be used. As you can see, I inserted it when "the" was included before "fireworks" in the English translation, but omitted "los" when "the" was not included before "gifts" in the English translation. Again, what's the rule on this? When I practice the writing exercises seems use of articles is hit and miss.
2) I am confused about why "de" was used as translation of "from" instead of "desde". Seems "regalos de Papá Noel" would translate in English to Santa Claus's gifts. Please explain.
Thank you!
Pati Ecuamiga.
con muchas rocas instead of muchos cubitos de hielo ???
Falta la DE, ¿no?
It seems I need to add more detail, so:
The drop-down menu for this question on forming the plural of nouns that end in -e gives four possible answers, none of which includes “de” after “especies”.
Hola Inma,
I'm not familiar with this construction "Has (Hacer) de."
I have looked it up (WordReference) but can't reconcile the meanings that they provide, with the phrase in this exercise.
Can you help with it please?
Saludos
John
Not quite sure of the English in the translation - at the bottom a drawer in the chest of drawers.
Do you mean - in the bottom draw of the chest of drawers?
Why don’t “senderismo, escalada y snowboard” have definite articles?
Can como si be followed by subjuntivo presente? Please clarify.
Find your Spanish level for FREE
Test your Spanish to the CEFR standard
Find your Spanish level