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Estructuras gramaticales complicadas

Estructuras gramaticales complicadas

En inglés encontramos estructuras gramaticales que no tienen nada que ver con el español, muchas de ellas difíciles de traducir. Veamos algunas de las más comunes.

No sooner… than…

Se utiliza para hablar de eventos que ocurrieron en el pasado, dando a entender que uno ocurrió inmediatamente antes que el otro. El que ocurrió primero es el que va con no sooner. Vamos a ver un par de ejemplos. Es importante prestar atención al orden de las palabras:

No sooner had I finished my dinner than my friend knocked the door.

Justo cuando acabé de cenar mi amigo tocó a la puerta.

No sooner had we arrived at the station than the bus came.

Justo cuando llegamos a la estación el autobús vino.

Hardly/ Scarcely… when…

Expresa lo mismo que no sooner… than… Es común en el lenguaje literario y se construye de la siguiente manera:

Hardly/Scarcely had we arrived at the station when the bus came.

Acabábamos de llegar a la estación cuando el autobús vino (también se podría haber traducido como en el ejemplo de arriba).

The more, the better

Las expresiones compuestas por dos frases seguidas empezando por the, acompañado de un comparativo o more, son muy comunes, sobre todo, en el inglés oral. Este tipo de oraciones no tienen un nombre específico y, en este caso, se podría traducir como “cuanto más, mejor”. Veamos otro ejemplo:

The more you study, the better results you will get.

Cuanto más estudies, mejores resultados obtendrás.

I would rather y I would prefer

Ambas expresiones se traducen como “yo preferiría” pero en el caso de would rather, si fuese seguido de un verbo, sería infinitivo sin to, mientras que prefer va seguido del verbo en infinitivo (es decir, con to) o en gerundio (terminando en –ing). La negación de ambos se realiza de la misma manera, colocando not después derather o prefer.

I would rather go to the party by bus.

Preferiría ir a la fiesta en autobús.

I would prefer to live in a foreign country.

Preferiría vivir en un país extranjero.

I had better

En español tiene la traducción de “sería mejor” y suele ser utilizado como un aviso, a veces, casi una amenaza.

When I come back, you had better have everything cleaned up.

Cuando vuelva será mejor que lo hayas limpiado todo.

I had better talk to him now.

Sería mejor que hablase con él ahora.

Have something done

Si digo I have my hair cut, estoy dando a entender que alguien me cortó el pelo, en español diríamos “me he cortado el pelo”, mientras que si digo, I cut my hair, quiere decir que yo me he cortado el pelo a mí mismo. El ejemplo habla por sí solo.

They have their apartment painted.

Han pintado el piso (se lo han pintado).

Might as well

"Might as well" se dice cuando es mejor hacer algo que no hacerlo. We might as well talk to him ("Podríamos hablar con él". También podríamos no hacerlo, pero hacerlo es mejor opción, por alguna razón que desconocemos en este caso). También se puede utilizar en lugar yes como respuesta a una pregunta.

My progress in German language.

Hoy he conseguido una medalla en alemán.

English Pronunciation - Los 3 Sonidos del Pasado

English Pronunciation: - Los 3 Sonidos del Pasado

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Prefer and Would Rather

     You can use "prefer to (do)" or "prefer -ing" to say what you prefer in general:

• I don't like cities. I prefer to live in the country OR I prefer livingin the country.

Study the differences in structure after prefer. We say:

• I prefer something to something else.
• I prefer to do something rather than (do) something else.
• I prefer doing something to doing something else.

•  I prefer this coat to the coat you were wearing yesterday.
•  I prefer driving to traveling by train.
but • I prefer to drive rather than travel by train.
•  Ann prefers to live in the country rather than (live) in a city.

Would prefer (I'd prefer...)

We use "would prefer" to say what somebody wants in a particular situation (not in general):

•  "Would you prefer tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

We say "would prefer to do" (not "doing"):

•  "Shall we go by train?" "Well, I'd prefer to go by car. (not "I'd prefer going")
•  I'd prefer to stay at home tonight rather than go to the cinema.

Would rather (I'd rather...)

Would rather (do) = would prefer (to do). After would rather we use the infinitive without to.

Compare:

•   "Shall we go by train?"	"I'd prefer to go by car."
	"I'd rather go by car. (not to go)

•  "Would you rather have tea or coffee" "Coffee, please."

The negative is "I'd rather not (do something)":
•  I'm tired. I'd rather not go out this evening, if you don't mind.
•  "Do you want to go out this evening" "I'd rather not."

Study the structure after would rather:

I'd rather

do something

than (do)

something else.

•  I'd rather stay at home tonight than go to the cinema.

I'd rather you did something

When you want somebody to do something, you can say "I'd rather you did something":

•  "Shall I stay here?" "I'd rather you came with us."
•  "Shall I tell them the news?" "No. I'd rather they didn't know."
•  "Shall I tell them or would you rather they didn't know?"

In this structure we use the past (came, did etc.), but the meaning is present or future, not past.
Compare:

•  I'd rather cook the dinner now.

but • I'd rather you cooked the dinner now. (not "I'd rather you cook")

The negative is "I'd rather you didn't...":
•  I'd rather you didn't tell anyone what I said.
• "Do you mind if I smoke?" "I'd rather you didn't."

1. Rewrite the sentences using the modal verbs in brackets.
1. It’s possible that Jane will visit Switzerland next year. (could)
2. I’m thinking about taking Spanish lessons. (may)
3. I’m sure they’ll be home by now. (must)
4. James definitely isn’t eighteen yet! (can’t)
5. It’s possible the weather will be sunny tomorrow. (might)
6. I’m sure that Mrs Smith didn’t leave home. (can’t) Mrs Smith …
7. Perhaps she’s gone to stay with her mother. (might) She …
8. It’s possible that Mr Smith committed a crime. (may) Mr Smith …
9. I’m certain that he buried something in the garden. (must) He …
10. Perhaps he won the lottery. (could) He …
11. I’m sure he bought a new car. (must) He …
12. Perhaps Mr Smith murdered his wife. (might) Mr Smith …
13. I'm sure she's at home. (must) 14. I know that isn't Janet-She's in America. (can’t)
15. I'm sure she thinks I'm stupid. (must) 16. I bet I look silly in this coat. (must)
17. They're always buying new cars. I'm certain they have a lot of money. (must)
18. I'm sure he's not a teacher. He's too well dressed. (can’t)
19. You're an architect? I'm sure that's an interesting job. (must)
20. I'm sure you're not serious. I know you're joking. (must)
21. I'm sure he's got another woman. He keeps coming home late. (must)
22. This water is possibly dangerous. (could)
23. Politics is sometimes really boring. (can)

2. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb.

1. It isn’t necessary for you to take a jacket.
2. I advise you to see a dentist.
3. You aren’t allowed to talk during the exam.
4. It’s forbidden to park here.
5. I advise you to study harder.
6. He is obliged to go to the police station twice a week.
7. Tom knows how to speak Spanish.
8. He had permission to go to the party.
9. It isn’t possible that that is our plane.
10. It isn’t necessary to take a thick coat.
11. I wish I had paid for half of the meal, but I didn’t.
12. It was wrong of Mary to tell Steve about us.
13. Perhaps Anita didn’t get the text message.
14. It’s possible that they went to the cinema.
15. It wasn’t a good idea to ask the other couple to come with us.
16. I am certain you haven’t seen John because he is on a trip.
       You…
17. It is possible that Jake is in his room.
       Jake…
18. Perhaps we will not see them at the weekend.
       We…
19. I don’t know if I will go to the concert.
       I…
20. They are certain that bringing up children is not easy.
       Bringing up children…
21. It is unnecessary for you to come.
       You…
22. I advise him to give up smoking.
       He…
23. Eating chewing-gum in the class in prohibited.
       Students…
24. There was an obligation to turn off the mobile phone.
      We…
25. I didn’t have the ability to cook when I was younger.
       I…



         KEY 

1.Rewrite the sentences using the modal verbs in brackets.
1. Jane could visit Switzerland next year.
2. I may take Spanish lessons.
3. They must be home by now.
4. James can’t be eighteen yet!
5. The weather might be sunny tomorrow.
6. Mrs Smith can’t have left home.
7. She might have gone to stay with her mother.
8. Mr Smith may have committed a crime.
9. He must have buried something in the garden.
10. He could have won the lottery.
11. He must have bought a new car.
12. Mr Smith might have murdered his wife.
13. She must be at home.
14. I know that it can’t be Jane-She's in America.
15. She thinks I must be stupid.
16. I must look silly in this coat.
17. They're always buying new cars. They must have a lot of money.
18. He can’t be a teacher. He's too well dressed.
19. You're an architect? It must be an interesting job.
20. I'm sure you're not serious. You must be joking.
21. He must have another woman. He keeps coming home late.
22. This water could be dangerous.
23. Politics can be really boring.

2. Rewrite the sentences using a modal verb. 

1. You needn’t / don’t have to take a jacket.
 2. You should see a dentist.
3. You must talk during the exam.
4. You mustn’t park here.
5. You should study harder.
6. He must go to the police station twice a week.
7. Tom can speak Spanish.
8. He could / was allowed to go to the party.
9. That can’t be our plane.
10. You needn’t / don’t have to take a thick coat.
11. I should have paid for half of the meal, but I didn’t.
12. Mary shouldn’t have told Steve about us.
13. Anita may not have got the text message.
14. They may have gone to the cinema.
15. You shouldn’t have asked the other couple to come with us.
16. You can’t have seen John because he is on a trip.
17. Jake may be in his room.
18. We may not see them at the weekend.
19. I may not go to the concert.
20. Bringing up children can’t be easy.
21. You needn’t / don’t have to come.
22. He should give up smoking.
23. Students mustn’t eat chewing-gum in the class.
24. We must turn off the mobile phone.
25. I couldn’t cook when I was younger.