Spanish language Q&A Forum

"Sobre" was given as a hint for "on" one page prior to where it was used (on the last line of text).

Hi!

This is a general question I have about words that can both describe a hobby and an occupation. I have been wondering about the example "Soy culturista" (I am a bodybuilder). Would we only say that if we made a living from bodybuilding? Would we say "soy un culturista" instead, if bodybuilding were only a hobby? (I got the variant with un as an alternative suggestion from a translator website.)

Thank you as always!

Trick questions like this one don't help and no one is going to put that adjective in front of axe in Spanish. Smh. I like this web site but the way you guys format questions is really annoying at times. The questions should reflect how a native is MOST LIKELY to say something, not "well let's mess with these people trying to learn a language and confuse them at the same time."

16 July 2023

Dear Kwiziq Lesson Writing Team:

I am uncertain as to when I must (or should) use the definite articles "el/la" or "los/las" when translating from English to Spanish. See following examples from the "Fire Heroes/Héroes del fuego" exercise:

Example 1:

"...protect buildings and save lives in danger"

I wrote: "...proteger los edificios y salvar las vidas en peligro."

The Kwiziq answer was: "...proteger edificios y salvar vidas en peligro."

Example 2:

"These professionals protect forests and natural areas..."

I wrote: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."

The Kwiziq answer was: "Estos profesionales protegen los bosques y las áreas naturales..."

As you can see, in neither of the English translations is a definite article included.

In Example 1, my use of "los" was accepted, but my use of "las" was not. Upon studying the final Kwiziq translation, I noticed that neither "los" nor "las" had been used in the translation of that phrase. Then in Example 2, I used "los" and "las". To my delight (and surprise) I saw that in the Kwiziq translation "los" and "las" were used as well. 

So --- I am confused and uncertain as to WHEN  (under what specific circumstances?) is it necessary, appropriate, or customary to use el/la and los/las. I know they must be used at the start of a sentence and (I believe) after some uses of gustar, but what about other circumstances?

Please upload lessons that offer specific examples (and explanations) about when to use these definite articles.  

Your attention to this request would be very greatly appreciated.

Regards,

Pati Ecuamiga

Hola,

The first sentence above uses 'mayor' to mean eldest.  How would you say 'elder'?

How can you be sure which is meant between the two?

How do you for the superlatives and the opposites (the least) of the comparatives?

Muchas gracias.

Saludos,

Colin

Yo habría ido a la entrevista si ________ un salario más decente.

I put "me hubieran ofrecido", but apparently that was wrong and "me" is not needed 

Why?