VOCABULARY.
=actitud=, actitude =agiotista=, stock-jobber =alejarse=, to go away =aludir á=, to allude, to hint =apurado de dinero=, short of money =apurar=, to purify, to exhaust =calcular=, to calculate, to reckon =callar=, to keep silent, to omit speaking =cambiar=, to change, to alter =consignar=, to consign, to record =contrato social=, articles of partnership =cordobán=, morocco leather =despacio=, slowly =despreciable=, despicable =dinero efectivo=, cash =discutir=, to discuss =especulación=, speculation, venture =garrote=, cudgel, stick =*impedir=, to hinder, to preclude =ladrón=, thief =(el) matiz=, shade =*mover=, to move, to actuate =mozalbete=, beardless youth =*quebrantamiento=, breakage, break down =reflejo=, reflection =*seguir=, to pursue =sin ton ni son=, without rhyme or reason =sombrero de copa=, silk hat =vejete=, diminutive old man =vocablo=, vocable, word
EXERCISE 1 (65).
Translate into English—
1. El agiotista que V. ve allí, aquel hombrón con el sombrerote de copa, ha hecho un fortunazo en sus especulaciones bursátiles (stock exchange speculations).
2. Aquel vejete que le acompaña con ese mozalbete su hijo me ha vendido una partidilla de Cordobán muy baratita.
3. Librazo, libraco, librote, libracho son todos variaciones de "libro," como también librito, librillo, libreto, librete, libretín, librejo que son sus formas diminutivas.
4. Libreta es diminutive de "libra"; se usa también por pan de una libra; "libreto" es el de una ópera; el cuadernito de papel de fumar es "librillo."
5. Estas graduaciones ó matices del sentido se deben aprender con la práctica y se deben usar naturalmente sin afectación como reflejo del profundo conocimiento de la lengua, y no copiados de un diccionario "sin ton ni son" como se dice en español.
6. Por ejemplo, "librazo, libracho, y librote" se refieren más al aspecto del libro. "Libracos" mas a los despreciables por su contenido.
7. También se debe notar que algunas terminaciones convienen á ciertos vocablos y á otros no, por ejemplo hay "libraco" y "pajarraco" pero esta terminación no puede tomarla el sustantivo "hombre."
8. En fin con lo dicho y con lo consignado en el apéndice IV el estudiante tiene bastante por ahora.
9. Con la República en Portugal acabadita de proclamar, nos vemos apuradillos de dinero pues los clientes portugueses van despacito en sus remesas.
10. Callandito se vino el ladronzuelo y se alejó sin ser visto.
11. Cuchilladas, pistolazos, revolveradas, y aún garrotazos son raros en Inglaterra; el Inglés se bate a puñetazo limpio (with his fist) cuando es de la hampa (a rough), y cuando es caballero no se bate aunque si llega el caso es muy capaz de dar muy buena cuenta de sí.
EXERCISE 2 (66).
Translate into Spanish—
1. If you cannot command (no puede disponer de) cash, we shall have to alter our price lists as our prices will have to be reckoned on a different basis; they will be a little dearer.
2. I am bound to say that there is some very strong opinion on this side (de este lado) against the course your Government intends to pursue in the matter.
3. The situation has been complicated by the breakdown of the arrangement we had made with our carriers (agentes de transporte).
4. I believe that the reason actuating Mr. Melero's attitude (mueve al Sr. M. en su) towards us, a reason which he hinted more than once in his correspondence, is that his articles of partnership with his friends in Rosario preclude him from entertaining (tomar en consideración) any new ventures.
5. At the monthly meeting of the Council of the Chamber of Commerce (Consejo de la Cámara de Comercio) the Japanese tariff was discussed on a (tras) communication from the Board of Trade ("Board of Trade," Ministerio de Comercio).
LESSON XXXIV.
(Lección trigésima cuarta.)
THE ADJECTIVE.
The position of qualifying adjectives is generally after the noun, especially
1. Those denoting physical qualities, as—
Un hombre ciego: A blind man.
Una mesa redonda: A round table.
Paño negro: Black cloth.
2. Those denoting nationality, as—
Quincalla inglesa: British hardware.
3. Those derived from verbs, as—
Mercancía averiada: Damaged goods.
The above rule is subject to many exceptions for the sake of euphony or to give more than the ordinary prominence to the adjective or the noun; however, the following rule will be found a reliable general one, and it is in fact the informing principle of all special rules given in the various grammars—
An adjective used as an epithet should precede the noun; if used as a distinguishing word it should follow.
By an adjective used as an epithet, we mean one calling to mind a quality known (or supposed) to belong to the noun, as—
No perdió el aliento el valiente general: The brave general did not lose courage.
By a distinguishing word we mean one used to indicate the quality of a noun as compared with another of the same species, as—
Quiero comprar maquinaria barata: I wish to buy cheap machinery.
The Partitive Adjectives "some" and "any" are left out in translation when they do not convey the idea of limited quantity. When they do, "algún," "un poco de" (sing.), "algunos" and "unos" (pl.) are used.
"Un poco de" and "unos" convey the idea of a more limited quantity or number than "alguno" and "algunos."
The following few examples are calculated to make it clear as regards the various shades of meaning—
¿Tiene V. alfombras? Have you any carpets?
Tengo algún azúcar para vender: I have some sugar to sell.
¿Quiere V. un poco de papel? Will you have some paper?
Yo tengo algunas obligaciones: I have some debentures.
He recibido algunos cigarros, le reservaré unas cajas de los mejores: I received some cigars; I shall reserve for you some boxes of the best quality.
One adjective preceding two or more nouns agrees in gender and number with the first only, as—
La nueva caldera y accesorios gustó (or gustaron) mucho al cliente:
The new boiler and accessories pleased the customer very much.
N.B.—If a verb intervenes the adjective is generally plural, and in case of different genders is pl. masc., as—
Adjuntos remitimos factura y conocimiento: Enclosed we send invoice and bill of lading.
When the adjective follows two or more nouns, it is put in the plural, as—
El trigo y el maíz están sostenidos: Wheat and maize are firm.
If the nouns are of different genders, the adjective is pl. masc., as—
El encaje y las guarniciones han salido caros: The lace and trimmings came out dear.
EXCEPTION—
When all the several nouns preceding the adjective are in the plural, and all referring to things (not persons), the adjective may be made to agree in gender with the noun last mentioned, as—
Los tornillos y las tuercas están bien ajustados (or ajustadas): The screws and nuts are well adjusted. It is better to avoid this construction
(1) By saying "las tuercas y los tornillos están bien ajustados."
(2) By using an adjective having the same termination for masculine and feminine.
(3) By giving a different turn to the sentence, as: "Son de buen ajuste".
Adjectives that qualify the fem. nada (nothing) are always used in the masculine—
Nada bueno espero de él: I expect nothing good from him.
Adjectives referring to titles of individuals are placed in the gender of the persons bearing those titles, as—
V. (contraction of Vuestra Merced) es muy buen amigo: You are a very good friend.
Adjectives of colour derived from a noun, as "violeta" (violet), "rosa" (pink), "chocolate" (chocolate), etc., do not take the mark of the plural, the words "color de" being understood before them, as—
Guantes crema: Cream gloves.
=Valer= (to be worth).
Pres. Indic., Valgo. Fut. Indic., Valdré, valdrás, valdrá, valdremos, valdréis, valdrán. Imper. Mood, Val or vale….