Looking for a New House

39.1 Basic Sentences — John White Buys a Car

White has managed to save up enough money to purchase a used car.

Dialogue

English	Spanish
Well, how much are you asking for the car?	Entonces, ¿cuánto pide por el coche?
2000 dollars.	Dos mil dólares.
For that price I can buy it brand new.	Por ese precio lo compro nuevecito.
This is last year’s model.	Este es del año pasado.
It has automatic transmission.	Tiene el cambio automático.
And the motor? I don’t want it to break down on me after three days.	¿Y el motor? No quiero que me falle a los tres días.
I’ll guarantee you it’s in perfect shape, and so are the brakes.	Yo le garantizo que está en perfecto estado, lo mismo que los frenos.
Its color and upholstery aren’t bad.	De color y tapicería no está mal.
But what’s your bottom price?	Pero, ¿cuánto es lo menos?
I can’t come down for you even one cent.	No le puedo rebajar ni un céntimo.
For a used car, it’s awfully expensive.	Para ser un coche usado, es carísimo.
So… Sorry for the trouble I’ve given you.	Así que… Perdone la molestia.
Good evening, sir.	Buenas noches, señor.
Don’t leave; perhaps we may still get together on it.	No se vaya, señor. Tal vez lleguemos a un acuerdo.
Then, $1850?	Entonces, ¿mil ochocientos cincuenta?
1900.	Mil novecientos.
It’s a deal. Not another word.	Trato hecho. Ni una palabra más.

Vocabulary

English	Spanish
brand new	nuevecito
the change, transmission, gears	el cambio
automatic	automático
to fail, break down	fallar
on the third day	a los tres días
to guarantee	garantizar
perfect	perfecto
the condition, state	el estado
the brake	el freno
the color	el color
the upholstery	la tapicería
to reduce, come down	rebajar
the cent	el céntimo
to use	usar
very expensive	carísimo
the bother	la molestia
the deal	el trato
sold, it’s a deal	trato hecho
the word	la palabra

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39.10 Notes on the Basic Sentences

(1) Note here that the diminutive suffix -cito does not have the ‘logical’ meaning that one might expect — ‘a little bit new’ or ‘almost new’ — but rather ‘completely new’ or ‘brand new’.

(2) We have previously observed that the simple present tense in Spanish occurs in a range of time-contexts where English would use a variety of forms such as the future mode (‘will…’) or the durative aspect (‘is…ing’). Here, however, is an instance where the equivalence is between a simple present in Spanish and one of the complex modal phrases of English (‘can buy’). Only context will give you any clue as to the appropriateness of one translation over another.

(3) Literally the Spanish says, ’…, the same as the brakes.’ Since, however, there has been no previous reference to the brakes, English does not allow the comparison to be worded in the same way, and the quite unliteral translation is, then, ’…, and so are the brakes.’

(4) A more nearly literal translation would be: ‘As far as color and upholstery are concerned, it’s not bad.’ That is, ‘Of color and upholstery…’

(5) The difference between para and por is interestingly illustrated in this sentence. Para ser means ‘Considering that it is (a used car)…,’ while por ser would mean ‘Because it is…’ as in Por ser un coche nuevo, lo puedo garantizar ‘Since it’s a new car, I can guarantee it.’ A minimally contrasting pair of sentences might appear as follows:

Spanish	English
Para ser americano, habla muy bien.	‘For an American, he speaks very well.‘
Por ser americano, habla muy bien.	‘Because he’s an American, he speaks very well.‘

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39.2 Drills and Grammar

39.21.1 The Derivational Suffix -(ec)ít-

The derivational suffix -ít-, and the alternates -cít- and -ecít-, can be added to the stems of many modifiers and nouns. The suffix appears between the stem and the inflectional suffixes of gender (and number).

Illustrations

English	Spanish
The little girl is downstairs.	La niñita está abajo.
Please give me another little piece of pie.	Tenga la bondad de darme otro pastelito.
My daughter speaks like a little lady.	Mi hija habla como una mujercita.
Don’t you see that little light over there?	¿No ves aquella lucecita que está allá?
Your boy is a bit skinny.	Su niño está un poco flaquito.
Your daughter is quite grown up.	La hija ya está grandecita.
For that price I can buy it brand new.	Por ese precio lo compro nuevecito.

Grammar

Derivation is the grammatical process by which new words are formed on existing stems by adding certain endings called derivational suffixes. Derivational suffixes need to be distinguished from inflectional formations. Inflectional suffixes are used to classify words and differentiate their functions in a construction: a stem which takes -ár is a verb, one which takes -o or -a is an adjective, etc.

The -ít- suffix is often referred to as a diminutive, and this is a meaning it frequently carries, as in hijo ‘son’ and hijito ‘small son.’ However, it can also mean:

• slightly: verdecito ‘greenish’
• emphatic: nuevecito ‘brand new’
• endearing: abuelita ‘darling grandmother’

Sometimes, to reinforce the diminutive meaning, the -ít- suffix will be doubled, so that: chico ‘small,’ chiquito ‘very small,’ and chiquitito ‘tiny.’

There are other diminutive derivational suffixes in Spanish which are widely used, particularly -ík- and -íoy-. Different dialect areas will often show a preference for one or another suffix. Costa Ricans, for example, are frequently called ticos because of their habit of using the -ik- diminutive suffix in preference to -ít-.

Substitution Drill

Problem	Answer
Es una morena pequeña.	Es una morena pequeñita.
Es una muchacha gorda.	Es una muchacha gordita.
Es una lección larga.	Es una lección larguita.
Compré un escritorio nuevo.	Compré un escritorio nuevecito.
Mi auto ya está viejo.	Mi auto ya está viejito.
Mi novia es morena.	Mi novia es morenita.
Ellos viven en esa casa.	Ellos viven en esa casita.
Le llevé a mi hija una silla.	Le llevé a mi hija una sillita.
Los García tienen dos niñas.	Los García tienen dos niñitas.
Mi hijo come en esa mesa.	Mi hijo come en esa mesita.

Translation Drill

English	Spanish
John’s girl friend is a bit chubby.	La novia de Juan es gordita.
His apartment is rather small.	Su apartamento es pequeñito.
That little brunette is pretty.	Esa morenita es muy linda.
This little table is for my daughter.	Esta mesita es para mi hija.
I brought my son a little boat.	Le traje a mi hijo un barquito.
She bought her daughter a very cute little dress.	Ella le compró a su hija un vestidito muy bonito.
They have a little girl.	Ellos tienen una muchachita.
Give me a little bit.	Déme un poquito.
Look at that little bull.	Mire ese torito.

39.21.2 The Derivational Suffix -ísim-

The derivational suffix -ísim- can be added to the stems of many modifiers. It functions as an intensifier, usually translated in English by the word ‘very’ used with the adjective. Thus rico ‘rich’ is made more emphatic as riquísimo ‘very rich.‘

Illustrations

Spanish	English
La comida estuvo buenísima.	The meal was extremely good.
Tiene un saque buenísimo.	He has a very good serve.
Muy bien, aunque yo estoy ocupadísima.	Very well, although I’m extremely busy.
Está riquísimo.	It’s delicious.
Para ser un coche usado, es carísimo.	For a used car, it’s awfully expensive.

Substitution Drill

Problem	Answer
Mi secretaria es competente.	Mi secretaria es competentísima.
El apartamento de ella es grande.	El apartamento de ella es grandísimo.
Compramos un auto barato.	Compramos un auto baratísimo.
Ellas están equivocadas.	Ellas están equivocadísimas.
He estado ocupado.	He estado ocupadísimo.
Esta lección es fácil.	Esta lección es facilísima.
Esa pista es larga.	Esa pista es larguísima.
Todos estamos contentos.	Todos estamos contentísimos.
Ese club es caro.	Ese club es carísimo.
Anoche comimos mucho.	Anoche comimos muchísimo.

Translation Drill

English	Spanish
The Garcias live in a very large house.	Los García viven en una casa grandísima.
Jose bought a very expensive car.	José compró un carro carísimo.
This morning we arrived very late.	Esta mañana llegamos tardísimo.
We had a very good time.	Nos divertimos muchísimo.
Louise drives very fast.	Luisa maneja rapidísimo.
This office is very comfortable.	Esta oficina es comodísima.
That room is very small.	Ese cuarto es pequeñísimo.
English is very difficult.	El inglés es dificilísimo.
The party was very good.	La fiesta estuvo buenísima.
Carlos dances very badly.	Carlos baila malísimo.
The airport is very big.	El aeropuerto es grandísimo.

39.21.3 The Compounding Suffix -mente

The compounding suffix -mente usually makes a verb (or self) modifier out of an adjective. This suffix is added after (instead of before, as for derivational formations) the inflectional suffixes.

Illustrations

Spanish	English
Francamente ninguno.	Frankly none.
Igualmente, gracias.	Likewise, thanks.
Realmente vale la pena vivir en ese barrio.	It’s really worthwhile to live in that neighborhood.
Realmente, todo el conjunto es muy atractivo.	Really, the whole complex is very attractive.
Principalmente para preparar técnicos especialistas.	Mainly to prepare specialized technicians.

The -mente compounding suffix resembles the English suffix ‘-ly’ in some ways. Both can make a verb modifier of an adjective, and both share the meaning ‘in the manner of.’ It is not uncommon for -ísim- and -mente to both appear with one stem, in which case -mente is added to the derivational formation: rapidísimamente.

Substitution Drill

Problem	Answer
Alicia es perfecta. → baila	Alicia baila perfectamente.
Luis es tranquilo. → maneja	Luis maneja tranquilamente.
Ana habla rápido. → traduce	Ana traduce rápidamente.
En la embajada son muy amables. → atienden	En la embajada atienden muy amablemente.
La morena resultó estupenda. → bailó	La morena bailó estupendamente.
El toro fue valiente. → murió	El toro murió valientemente.
Marta fue fantástica. → jugó	Marta jugó fantásticamente.
Carlos fue fenomenal. → se portó	Carlos se portó fenomenalmente.

Translation Drill

English	Spanish
The Molinas come here frequently.	Los Molina vienen aquí frecuentemente.
We dressed rapidly.	Nos vestimos rápidamente.
I translated everything carefully.	Traduje todo cuidadosamente.
At the office they treated me pleasantly.	En la oficina me trataron amablemente.
John speaks Spanish perfectly.	Juan habla español perfectamente.
Ann drives rapidly.	Ana maneja rápidamente.
He handled himself valiantly.	Él se portó valientemente.
The girls danced terrifically.	Las muchachas bailaron estupendamente.
They do everything comfortably.	Ellos hacen todo cómodamente.
Frankly, I’m not complaining.	Francamente, yo no me quejo.
Really, that garden is pretty.	Realmente, ese jardín es bonito.

Note: The full drills (replacement drills, response drills) are designed for oral work with audio. Open the Student Text PDF for complete drill sets.

Variation Drills

A. Dos mil dólares.

English	Spanish
Three thousand dollars.	Tres mil dólares.
Thirty thousand dollars.	Treinta mil dólares.
Fifty thousand dollars.	Cincuenta mil dólares.
Sixty thousand dollars.	Sesenta mil dólares.
Seventy thousand dollars.	Setenta mil dólares.
One hundred thousand dollars.	Cien mil dólares.
One million dollars.	Un millón de dólares.

B. ¿Y el motor? No quiero que me falle.

English	Spanish
And the transmission? I don’t want it to break down on me.	¿Y el cambio? No quiero que me falle.
And the brakes? I don’t want them to give out on me.	¿Y los frenos? No quiero que me fallen.
And the upholstery? I don’t want it to get torn.	¿Y la tapicería? No quiero que se rompa.
And my mother-in-law? I don’t want her to faint.	¿Y mi suegra? No quiero que se desmaye.
And you? I don’t want you to get mixed up.	¿Y Ud.? No quiero que se confunda.
And you? I don’t want you to commit yourself.	¿Y Ud.? No quiero que se comprometa.
And you all? I don’t want you to go away.	¿Y Uds.? No quiero que se vayan.

C. De color y tapicería no está mal.

English	Spanish
Its motor and brakes aren’t bad.	De motor y frenos no está mal.
Its condition and the price aren’t bad.	De estado y precio no está mal.
Its style and the color aren’t bad.	De estilo y color no está mal.
Its automatic transmission’s not bad.	De cambio automático no está mal.
Its model’s not bad.	De modelo no está mal.
Its length’s not bad.	De largo no está mal.
Its lines aren’t bad.	De línea no está mal.

D. No le puedo rebajar ni un céntimo.

English	Spanish
I can’t come down even one peso for you.	No le puedo rebajar ni un peso.
I can’t come down even a little bit for you.	No le puedo rebajar ni un poco.
I can’t come down any for you.	No le puedo rebajar nada.
I can’t collect anything from you.	No le puedo cobrar nada.
I can’t explain anything to you.	No le puedo explicar nada.
I can’t forgive you anything.	No le puedo perdonar nada.
I can’t answer you anything.	No le puedo responder nada.

E. Perdone tanta molestia.

English	Spanish
Excuse so much annoyance.	Perdone tanta lata.
Excuse so much noise.	Perdone tanto ruido.
Excuse so many problems.	Perdone tanto problema.
Excuse so many excuses.	Perdone tanto pretexto.
So much heat doesn’t matter.	No importa tanto calor.
So much cold doesn’t matter.	No importa tanto frío.
So much pepper doesn’t matter.	No importa tanta pimienta.

F. No se vaya. Tal vez lleguemos a un acuerdo.

English	Spanish
Don’t go. Maybe we can agree on a price.	No se vaya. Tal vez lleguemos a un precio.
Don’t go. Maybe we can agree on a compromise.	No se vaya. Tal vez lleguemos a un compromiso.
Don’t go. Maybe it’s worth the trouble.	No se vaya. Tal vez valga la pena.
Don’t go. Maybe they’ll win the set.	No se vaya. Tal vez ganen el partido.
Don’t worry. Maybe it’s good news.	No se preocupe. Tal vez sean buenas noticias.
Don’t worry. Maybe everything’ll turn out all right.	No se preocupe. Tal vez resulte todo bien.
Don’t worry. Maybe it won’t be any problem.	No se preocupe. Tal vez no sea ningún problema.

39.24 Review Drills

39.24.1 Spanish Verbs with Included Subject

English	Spanish
John? He’s shaving.	¿Juan? Se está afeitando.
Anthony? He’s bathing.	¿Antonio? Se está bañando.
The girls? They’re getting dressed.	¿Las muchachas? Se están vistiendo.
The lady? She’s sweeping.	¿La señora? Está barriendo.
Ann? She’s cleaning.	¿Ana? Está limpiando.
Charles? He’s not here.	¿Carlos? No está aquí.
The doctor? He’s not in the office.	¿El médico? No está en la oficina.
Martha? She hasn’t called yet.	¿Marta? No ha llamado todavía.
Louise? He hasn’t been here today.	¿Luis? No ha estado hoy aquí.

39.24.2 The Adjective todo

English	Spanish
All of us are working at the same company.	Todos nosotros trabajamos en la misma compañía.
All of us danced last night.	Todos nosotros bailamos anoche.
All of us went to the agency.	Todos nosotros fuimos a la agencia.
All of us helped Carmen.	Todos nosotros le ayudamos a Carmen.
All of us believe that.	Todos nosotros creemos eso.
All of us came yesterday.	Todos nosotros vinimos ayer.
All of them put on a tie.	Todos ellos se pusieron corbata.
All of them arrived late.	Todos ellos llegaron tarde.
All of them went to the bullfight.	Todos ellos fueron a la corrida.
All of them brought their vaccination certificate.	Todos ellos trajeron el certificado de vacuna.
All of them filled their application.	Todos ellos llenaron la solicitud.
All the women were surprised.	Todas las mujeres se sorprendieron.
All the ladies ate slowly.	Todas las señoras comieron despacio.
All the young ladies danced.	Todas las señoritas bailaron.
All the men drank beer.	Todos los hombres bebieron cerveza.
All the girls got nervous.	Todas las muchachas se pusieron nerviosas.
All the boys ate together.	Todos los niños almorzaron juntos.

Spanish uses todos as an adjective before either nouns or pronouns. English uses ‘all’ as a noun before pronouns, but before nouns it can be used either as an adjective (as in Spanish) or as a noun (as with pronouns): ‘all the boys’ or ‘all of the boys.‘

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39.4 Readings

39.41 Life in Surlandia — Los Primeros Días

A reading about the first days after Andivia’s invasion of Surlandia, depicting the chaotic street scenes, patriotic demonstrations, the military response including the Fuentes brothers’ deployment to the front, and a comedic incident where Julio Fuentes nearly fires on his own brother Alfredo’s patrol after mistaking them for the enemy.

39.42 Features — La Organización de los Estados Americanos y su Campo Social

A reading about the social programs of the Organization of American States, covering inter-American cooperation in education (combating illiteracy), public health (controlling diseases like yellow fever, malaria, smallpox, typhus, and tuberculosis), agriculture (improving farming techniques and soil conservation), and housing and urbanization (community development and disaster rehabilitation).