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Hi Cher, http://spanishhelp.freeforums.org/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=1096 Please go to the link to see my first question. Then my follow-up to that, from Lazarus' response is this: 1) That's different in Spanish and English: todos tiene su cartera -> each person has his own wallet todos tiene sus carteras -> each person has several wallets I understand what he is saying, but why is 'todos' plural? Shouldn't tener been in 3rd person plural to match? ----- 2) Comment: Also, she said 1 andXXXXXon tuesdays. Why is 'circula' singular? You can take a subject with several items (e.g. 1 and 8) and then use plural, or you can use two coordinate sentences like this: Los martes no circula el uno y [no circula] el ocho." I don't understand what he is saying here... isn't that a subject with several items and hence, should or could be plural? Thanks!
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Hi again, and thanks for requesting me.I will have your answers in a short while; I'm currently finishing up another assignment.Thanks for your patience.Best regards,Cher
No problem, thanks Cher!
You're most welcome!Regards,Cher
Hi again, and thanks for your patience!I've had a hard time remaining online. It's storming here and my internet keeps going out.I went to the link to see your first question. I agree with Gekkosan(?) that the construction of that sentence ("Entonces, los coches, con su placa, el último número de su placa corresponde a un día.") is not written in proper Spanish and if it was spoken or written by a native Mexican Spanish speaker, we have to take into account dialectal differences and idiomatic usage in different parts of the world; keep in mind there can even be dialectal differences which vary from one neighborhood to another in cities in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries.For question #1, I agree with Lazarus here: "That's different in Spanish and English:todos tiene su cartera -> each person has his own wallettodos tiene sus carteras -> each person has several wallets"---------------------------Because todos is written in the plural, it doesn't affect the plurality of the verb in the sentence because todos means 'everyone' and is a singular noun, requiring a singular verb form. The same is true in English grammar. "Everyone is going to the movies".....not "Everyone are going". More than one person is going, but 'everyone' is a collective noun/subject, but takes the singular form of the verb.2) Comment: Also, she said 1 and 8 don't drive on tuesdays. Why is 'circula' singular? You can take a subject with several items (e.g. 1 and 8) and then use plural, or you can use two coordinate sentences like this: Los martes no circula el uno y [no circula] el ocho." I don't understand what he is saying here... isn't that a subject with several items and hence, should or could be plural? Lazarus said:
Experience: Spanish Teacher & Tutor 35+ years Experience; Masters Degree Spanish/Education; Translator
Thanks Cher!1) re: todos - I understand now. However, that leads me to, what is the difference between: todos and todo? 2) So for 'circular' to be plurar, it should have read as such: Los numeros (el) uno y (el) ocho no circulan en los martes.Is 'el' optional here?Thanks!p.s. - its poor grammar because I took it from a video I was watching and the lady was explaining something as if having a normal conversation.
Hi Cher -I understand now based on your reasoning. However, two follow-ups:1) What is the difference between todos and todo? Examples always appreciated.2) For plural usage of 'circular' I would say:Los numbers (el) uno y (el) ocho no circulan en los martes.2a) Is the 'el' optional? If so, what is the difference with or without it?Thanks!Steve
Hi again Steve, and you're most welcome; thanks for your reply.1) What is the difference between todos and todo? Examples always appreciated.While 'todos' is written in the plural, as mentioned, it can refer to 'everyone'. You can also use it with a noun following, agreeing in number and gender, such as 'Todas las mujeres van al cine'==All the ladies go to the movies. It can also mean 'every' when used with days of the week, as in 'Every Saturday we go to a party'==Todos los sábados vamos a una fiesta.Todo is singular and also must agree in number and gender with the noun following."Toda la clase estudia el español"==The whole class (all the class) studies Spanish. This refers to more than one person, but again, is a collective noun--all the class, the whole clase, everyone in the class, and it takes the singluar form of the verb.2) For plural usage of 'circular' I would say:Los números (el) uno y (el) ocho no circulan en los martes.2a) Is the 'el' optional? If so, what is the difference with or without it?Yes, it sounds very 'stilted' with the 'el' before each number.Actually, what would sound best would be: Los autos con los números uno y ocho no circulan los martes. (en shouldn't be in this sentence, as 'los' plus the day of the week means 'on').I hope that clarified this for you. Best regards,Cher
Disregard, thanks for your help.
You're most welcome, Steve.Regards,Cher
I sent you a bonus for all your help thus far! Thanks for being patient with me.
Hi again, Steve.Yes, I just received notification of the bonus on your other question, and it is greatly appreciated. Thanks!You're most welcome for my patience, but no need to thank me. It's my pleasure to work with a student who is so interested in learning the intricacies of the language!Best regards,Cher