Pitman's Commercial Spanish Grammar (2nd ed.)

LESSON I. (continued 3)

Reading edition

7. Dicha Sociedad tiene un capital de un millon de pesetas; la mitad en acciones preferentes y la mitad en ordinarias.

8. Se ha verificado la junta de acreedores del Sr…. a la cual no asistio el principal interesado por encontrarse delicado de salud.

9. Los reunidos han decidido aplazar dicha junta hasta el 20 del corriente.

10. Fundandose en atendibles razones nuestro corresponsal deja sin efecto el pedido que nos habia confiado.

EXERCISE 2 (54).

Translate into Spanish—

1. We shall have to take in the hosiery although it is slightly (un poquito) overdue.

2. We have to give the example of fair dealing ourselves.

3. Who is to decide on the subject of the indemnity due to the captain of the ship?

4. If we want to withdraw the goods without producing (presentar) a B/L. we shall have to sign an indemnity (indemnidad).

5. We have received the account sale for our wines and oils and regret the venture has not turned out as well as we expected.

6. We found a great difficulty in parting with our surplus (excesivas) stock, of which we had to dispose (disponer) at prices very much reduced.

7. We are unable to inform you to what extent (hasta que punto) you may calculate on (contar con) our remittance, as much will depend on circumstances over which we have no control (independientes de nuestra voluntad).

8. The rate (el tipo) of the insurance premium is 6/-per cent. on the outward and 5/-per cent. on the homeward voyage.

9. I very much question the advisability (dudo mucho la ventaja) of putting prices up at the present moment when so many adverse circumstances have to be taken into consideration.

10. As a matter of fact (en efecto) most of us (la mayor parte de nosotros) think it would be better to reduce them somewhat (algo) now that competition is so keen.

11. They vie with each other in cutting prices down (reducir) with the result that profits are ridiculously low (irrisorios).

LESSON XXVIII. (Leccion vigesima octava.)

THE ADVERBS.

Adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs.

The following are the principal Spanish adverbs—

Abajo (below) Ademas (besides) Adelante, delante (before, in point of place) Ahora (now) *Alrededor, *entorno (around) Amenudo, a menudo (often) *Antes (before, in point of time) Antes, antes bien (rather) Anoche (last night) Anteanoche (the night before last) Apenas, asi que (as soon as) Aqui, aca (here, hither) Alli, alla (there, thither) De aqui, de alli (hence, thence) Aun, todavia (still, yet) Ayer (yesterday) Anteayer (the day before yesterday) Bastante (sufficiently) Bien (well) *Cerca (near) *Debajo (under) *Por debajo (underneath) Demasiado (too, too much) *Dentro (within) *Despues (after, afterwards) *Detras (behind) Donde[160] (where) En breve (shortly) *Encima (upon, above) *Enfrente (opposite) Entonces (then) *Fuera (outside) Hacia (towards) Hacia adelante (forwards) Hacia abajo (downwards) Hasta (till, until) Hoy (to-day) *Junto (next) *Lejos (far) Luego (presently, soon, then) Manana (to-morrow) Mal (badly) Mas (more) Mejor (better) Menos (less) Mientras (whilst) Mientras tanto (in the meantime) Mucho (much) Muy[161] (very) Nunca, jamas (never) Ni … ni … (neither … nor …) Ni tampoco (not either) Peor (worse) Pronto (soon) Tal vez, acaso, quiza, quizas (perhaps) Tan, asi (so) Tanto (so much) Tarde (late) Temprano (early) Ya[162] (already)

[Footnote 160: After verbs of motion also "a donde." After verbs of rest also "en donde."]

[Footnote 161: Used as in English, but always muy before a past part., as: Muy apreciado (much esteemed). Such phrases as "He is rich but not very" are translated "Es rico pero no mucho or tanto."]

[Footnote 162: Ya is also used for "now." "Ya no"—no longer.]

Those marked with an asterisk may govern a noun or pronoun through the preposition de with the exception of junto, which governs these words through a.

Adverbs may be formed from adjectives as in English.

The English termination ly is rendered by =mente= added to the feminine form of the adjective, when this changes for the feminine.

Adverbs are compared like the adjectives, but the superlative relative of adverbs is formed with lo mas, and lo menos, as—

Es el mas rico: He is the richest.

Esta adornado lo mas ricamente posible: It is ornamented in the richest manner possible.

Es el menos exacto: He is the least exact.

Cotice lo menos que pueda: Quote the least you can.

Besides the primitive adverbs given in our list, there are many adverbial locutions—

a toda prisa (with all speed). a la espanola (in the Spanish fashion). a troche y moche, a trochimoche (in a slipshod way). con blandura (gently). de mala gana (unwillingly). de vez (or de cuando) en cuando (from time to time). tal cual vez (once in a while). un si es, no es (ever so little).

When an adverb is followed by a verb in English que must be inserted in Spanish before a finite mood and de before an infinitive, as—

Despues de venir (after coming).

Despues que vino (after he came).

The phrases "I say so," " I think it is (so)," "I do not think so," are rendered "Digo que si" (or "lo digo"), "Creo que si" (or "lo creo"), "Creo que no" (or "no lo creo").

Some adjectives are used adverbially, as in English, without the addition of mente, as—

Vender barato, caro (to sell cheap, dear).

Hablar alto, bajo (to speak loud, low).

When two or more adverbs ending in mente occur in the same sentence, the termination is added only to the last, as—

Escribe clara,[163] concisa[163] y elegantemente: He writes clearly, concisely and elegantly.

[Footnote 163: Notice "clara" and "concisa" in the feminine.]

=Caer= (to fall).

Pres. Ind., Caigo — — — — — Pres. Subj., Caiga, caigas, caiga, caigamos, caigais, caigan.

VOCABULARY.

=a duras penas=, with great difficulty =a la larga=, m the long run =a medida que=, in proportion as =a mejor andar=, at best =a plazos=, in instalments =ajeno=, averse =apagado= extinguished, dull (colours) =*asentar=, to book (an order) =chillones=, gaudy, screaming (colours) =claro=, light (colours) =claro y redondo= (quite clearly) =columna=, column =con el corazon en la mano=, quite candidly =confeccionar=, to make up =*confesar=, to confess =conservas alimenticias=, preserves =definir=, to define (also to settle) =dificultad=, difficulty =ensayo=, trial, proof, venture =escoger=, to choose =exceder=, to exceed =facilidad=, ease, facility =fijo=, fixed, firm =fondos=, grounds (pictures, cloth) =gana= (=de buena, de mala=), willingly, unwillingly =ganga=, a bargain =langosta=, lobster =mariscos=, shell-fish =muestrarios=, pattern cards, sets =oscuro=, dark =paquete=, packet, parcel =*(no) poder menos de ..=., not to be able to help =puntos=, points, spots (in prints) =restos=, remnants =sacar=, to pull out, to get out, to get back =sardinas=, sardines =satines brochados=, brocaded satins =serie=, series =sin mirar a gastos=, regardless of expense =sobrio=, quiet (colour) =solidez=, solidity =tomar a mal=, to take amiss =vivo=, vivid, bright (colours)

EXERCISE 1 (55).

Translate into English—

1. Tiene V. (there is) tanta variedad de dibujos que verdaderamente cuesta dificultad (it is difficult) el escoger entre disenos con flores, con puntos, con rayas, y cuadritos.

2. Con facilidad sin embargo (however) podra V. hacer un surtido entre las dos series que le enviamos, de fondos claros y oscuros, y de colores vivos, chillones, sobrios, y apagados.

3. Desde algun tiempo a esta parte tratan Vs. los negocios tan a trochimoche que ya no sabemos a que atenernos (what to think of it).

4. Hago esta consignacion de mala gana y le confieso claro y redondo que siguiendo V. a vender tan barato y a plazos tan largos no me tendra cuenta hacerle otros envios sino por su propia cuenta o contra pedidos fijos de los clientes.

5. Clara y concisamente es como se deben escribir las cartas comerciales.

6. A la par que Vs. (same as yourselves) no somos ajenos a la idea de hacer algun ensayo en la importacion de langosta, mariscos, sardinas, y conservas alimenticias, pero debemos ir a medias en cualquiera transaccion que se decida.

7. Creo que a duras penas sacara su dinero y a mejor andar tendra que perder todo su trabajo.

8. A medida que aumenten los ingresos se aumentaran los dividendos.

9. Recibira V. en paquete asegurado los nuevos muestrarios que se han confeccionado sin mirar a gastos.

10. Estos restos son una verdadera ganga y ademas, podra V. pagarlos al contado o a plazos largos (easy) como mas le convenga.

11. Dejaremos en suspenso su reclamo hasta definirlo personalmente en su proximo viaje a Inglaterra.

12. No puede menos de admitir (to admit) que a la larga esto no puede convenirme, y espero que V. no lo tome a mal que se lo exponga con el corazon en la mano.

EXERCISE 2 (56).

Translate into Spanish—

1. After writing you by last mail we are informed by the maker of the Brown Linens (lienzos morenos) that he will be able to book your order which will be delivered before the end of next month.

2. The Brocaded Satins will range between (costaran desde) 4d. and 5d. a yard, and we shall ship them within six weeks but only after receiving your letter confirming them.

3. These shapes are not worn (gastan, llevan) outside England.

4. Not far from here and next to the Bank there is the Insurance Office, which is much admired for its solidity and fine appearance.

5. It cost L20,000 and they never thought it would exceed half that amount.

6. Perhaps it is too large an outlay (gasto) for the Company, but there was no money wasted.

7. The columns in the porch have cost so much because they are of the best Carrara marble (marmol).

8. Whilst we admit that the prints sent may have been just a little bit (un si es no es) off shade (diferentes al color pedido) your claim is quite out of the question.

9. Towards the beginning of the autumn our Mr. So-and-So will make a trip (hara un viaje) to your place, and he will have the honour of waiting upon you (de visitarles) with our latest novelties (novedades).

10. You do not understand how it is possible that your neighbours are able to undersell you (vender mas bajo que V.), nor can we make it out (explicarnoslo) either.

LESSON XXIX. (Leccion vigesima nona.)

THE PREPOSITIONS.

Prepositions join words together to mark certain relations between them.

The principal prepositions are—

A (at, to) Ante (before—in point of place) Bajo (under) Con (with) Contra, en contra de (against) De (of, from) Desde (since, from) En (in) Entre (between, among) Hacia (towards) Hasta (till, as far as, even) Para (for the purpose of, for, in order to) Por (for, by, because of) Segun (according to) Sin (without) Sobre (upon) Tras, tras de (behind) Para con (una persona),[164] (towards, with, a person)

[Footnote 164: "Fue muy generoso para conmigo": He was very generous with me.]

Many verbs take in Spanish a different preposition than in English. Some verbs take a preposition in one language and none in the other, as—

Depender de una promesa: To depend on a promise. Convenir en una transaccion: To agree to a compromise. Confiar en un desconocido: To trust a perfect stranger. Regalarle un cheque: To present him with a cheque.

The use of the correct preposition according to the verb it follows is best learnt by practice. In the second part of the grammar, the student will be helped with a list of the most characteristic differences between the two languages. The Spanish construction is not quite so rigid in this respect as is the English.

Difference between de and desde both translating "from"—=De= mark the origin only, as:

Esta seda viene de Italia: This silk comes from Italy—it is Italian silk.

=Desde= calls attention to distance of time or space, as—

Desde el 1 deg. de Enero se establecio en comercio por cuenta propia: From the 1st of January, he started in business on his own account.

He viajado desde Londres hasta Calcuta en tantos dias: I travelled from London to Calcutta in so many days.

The chief difficulty in the employment of the Spanish prepositions is the use of Por and Para—

=Por= is used—

1. To denote agency = by[165]; as—

Es tenido en gran cuenta por sus amigos: He is thought much of by his friends.

Este establecimiento fue fundado por mi bisabuelo: This establishment was founded by my great-grandfather.

[Footnote 165: After the passive voice of verbs denoting mental action when formed by ser, Por is elegantly substituted by De, as: Son amados por or de sus padres (they are loved by their parents). But: Se aman por sus padres.]

2. To denote the motive of an action, as—

Lo hizo por envidia: He did it for (out of) envy.

3. To denote equivalency of any kind, as—

Cinco peniques por libra: Fivepence for a pound—per pound.

Trocar un producto por otro: To exchange one product for another.

Considerar a uno bueno por L1,000: To consider somebody as good for L1,000.

Por mejor le envie yo como viajante: I sent you to travel, holding you for a better man.

Tienda por tienda, prefiero esta: Of the two shops I prefer this.

4. To denote distribution, as—

Vinieron cinco por cinco: They came five by five.

=Para= is used—

1. To denote the object of an action (generally "to" or "in order to"), as—

Trabajo para ganarme la vida: I work to (in order to) earn my living.

2. To denote destination (or direction), as—

El tren sale para Valencia: The train leaves for Valencia.

Esta cedula es para el Sr. Fulano: This warrant is for Mr. So-and-So.

Voy para casa: I am going towards home.

Many idiomatic uses of Por and Para must be learnt by practice.

VOCABULARY.

=abogar=, to plead =acceder=, to accede =afanarse=, to exert oneself, to take much trouble =ahorrar=, to save =ajuste=, adjustment =a la verdad=, really =altos hornos=, blast furnaces, foundries =amarillo=, yellow, buff =amistad=, friendship =aparentar=, to show outwardly =aprovecharse=, to take advantage of, to avail oneself =aproximarse=, to approach, to draw near =automovil=, motor-car =azadas=, hoes =azadones=, pick-axes =azuelas=, adzes =bultos=, packages =cizallas=, shears =croquis=, sketch =disenador=, draughtsman =*disponer=, to dispose, to arrange =echar al correo=, to (throw into the) post =empeoramiento=, deterioration =en blanco=, blank =estancia=, stay =(un) fardin, un cuarto=, a farthing, a trifling amount =*forzar=, to force, to strain =hachuelas=, hatchets =hilar=, to spin =largo de talle=, full, complete =lingotes de hierro=, pig-iron =martillo=, hammer =molestia=, trouble =moratoria=, extension of time (for payment) =palas=, shovels =para= (=estar=), (to be) on the point of … =picos=, picks =plomo=, slate, lead colour =por= (=estar por escribir=), to be (yet) unwritten =prevision=, foresight =los sintomas=, the symptoms =suspender los pagos=, to stop payments =tejer=, to weave =tenazas=, tongs =textil=, textile =*trocar=, to barter, to exchange =yerno, hijo politico=, son-in-law

EXERCISE 1. (57)

Translate into English—

1. De Espana nos vienen las ricas uvas y las jugosas (juicy) naranjas, ademas de minerales—de hierro y cobre.

2. El viaje por mar desde Espana a Inglaterra tarda de cuatro a seis dias.

3. Desde el ano 1900 hasta el 1910 aumento mucho la poblacion del Reino Unido.

4. Los Altos Hornos de Bilbao se han construido para la produccion de lingotes de hierro.

5. La Sociedad reune poderosos elementos (commands great resources) para la fabricacion de toda clase de maquinaria para la hiladura y la tejeduria del algodon.

6. Los bultos se embarcaron directamente por los fabricantes mismos.

7. El empaque y el transporte cuestan lo mismo y precio por precio preferimos ahorrarnos molestias.

8. Por un falso sentido de honor aquella casa forzo su credito para no tener que pedir moratorias, dando esto por resultado el empeoramiento de su posicion.

9. Compre un automovil por L1,000 mas lo troque con este que vale a la verdad L1,500 dando solo L200 por la diferencia.

10. Disponga V. las piezas tantas por parte.

11. A una veintena por vez colocamos aquellos picos, palas, azadas, azadones, hachuelas, azuelas, martillos, cizallas, y tenazas.

12. Se presento por su yerno, abogo por el por una hora larga de talle, todo por su hija, pues por el chico (young man, lit., child) maldita la gana que tendria (he would not have liked the idea) de afanarse tanto por el.

13. Hare por colocar sus driles blancos, plomo, y amarillos (buff) para los cuales me dio orden verbal su Sr. hijo durante su estancia aqui y que se despacharan por (or por la via de) Burdeos y Cartagena.

14. Nuestro mercado sigue muy encalmado sin que por el momento presente sintomas de mejora.

15. La primera carta esta para echarse al correo pero la segunda y la tercera quedan aun por escribir.

EXERCISE 2 (58).

Translate into Spanish—

1. He offers a loan to avoid all risk that the house should fall.

2. It would not be possible for it to fall unless the Textile Bank should stop payments.

3. His office is opposite ours and we have him thus under our eyes.

4. With all the weight of the evidence (las pruebas) you have collected (recogido), it would be very risky to proceed against him from such a distance.

5. Between one thing and the other I did not know what to choose, so I left them to settle the matter between themselves.

6. These sketches have been made by our draughtsman for our customers, the owners of the Sugar Mill in Parahyba.

7. He did the work for the pleasure of it but would not (no quiso) charge a farthing for it.

8. The packets arrived two by two.

9. I accede willingly for the sake of old friendship (por la antigua amistad que nos une).

10. As the time of the year is drawing near when your firms effect their purchases in this country, we beg to address you to renew the offer of our services.

11. We shall be extremely glad if you will avail yourselves of our offers and send us orders for some of your requirements.

12. The adjustment of the average per S.S. "Nile" is still hanging fire (todavia pendiente), but we are pushing the Insurance Co. to our utmost (todo lo posible) for a speedy settlement.

13. For a (para) foreigner he understands English methods very well indeed.

14. Being (por ser) so young he shows a good deal of (mucho) tact and foresight.

LESSON XXX. (Leccion trigesima.)

THE CONJUNCTIONS AND INTERJECTIONS.

Conjunctions join sentences together; also independent words.

The principal conjunctions are—

*A menos que (unless) A pesar de (in spite of) Asi como (just as) Asi que, de suerte que (so that) *Afin de que, *Para que (that—in order that) Aunque, bien que, si bien (although, even if) *Bien … bien (whether … or) Como (as) *Con tal que (provided) Con que (so) *Cuando (if) Mas, pero, empero[166] (but) Sino (but—after a negative[167]) Ni … ni (neither … nor) No sea que* (lest, also perhaps) No obstante (nevertheless) O … o[168] (either … or) Ora … ora[168] (now … now—with indic. mood) Porque, porque (why, because) Portanto (therefore) Puesto que[169] (seeing that) Pues (since) Que (that) Si (if, whether) Sin embargo (however, notwithstanding) Segun (according) Siquiera (at least, even) Y[170] (and) Ya … ya[171] (whether … or—with subj. mood) Ya que (since, seeing that)

[Footnote 166: Empero is used same as pero at the beginning of a sentence.]

[Footnote 167: Unless a finite verb follows, as: No tengo dinero pero gozo de buena reputacion (I have no money but I enjoy a good reputation).]

[Footnote 168: Before words commencing with o or ho, it changes into u.]

[Footnote 169: In old Spanish it had the meaning of "even if."]

[Footnote 170: Before words commencing with i, also hi not followed by a vowel, use e, as: "Padre e hijo," but "Nieve y hielo."]

[Footnote 171: "Ora … ora" and "ya … ya" both mean "now … now" (with indic. mood), and "whether … or" (with subj. mood).]

The conjunctions marked with an asterisk are always followed by a verb in the Subjunctive Mood.

The English "either" is generally left understood, as—

Exportaciones o importaciones: Either exports or imports.

"Either" following a negative—tampoco, as—

No quiero comprar Titulos de Gobierno ni Obligaciones de Ferrocarriles tampoco: I do not wish to buy Government Stock, nor Railway Stocks either.

=Interjections=, being mere exclamations, do not stand in grammatical relation to any other word in the sentence.

They are elliptical sentences, as—

iOh! (I am surprised, etc.).

The principal Interjections in Spanish are the following—

caramba, caspita (these express practically all kinds of emotions) ay[172] (oh! grief or threat) bah, ca, quia (humph!) ce, hola, ola (I say!) chito, chiton (shut up!) cuidado, iojo! (attention! look out!) ea (come!) he (hey) huy (oh! physical pain) ojala (oh, that) por Dios (for heaven's sake) tate, zape (what! (surprise)) tonterias (nonsense!) uf (oh! weariness or fatigue)

[Footnote 172: This can govern a noun or pronoun, as—iAy de mi! Woe to me! iAy de Pedro! Woe to Peter!]

As well as Ah or Ha, Oh or O as in English, and many words used as exclamations, as—

iSilencio! icalle! icalle la boca (silence! hush! shut your mouth!) ivamos! (much used), (come! come now!) ique lastima! (what a pity!) ipoco a poco! (gently, Sir!) iheteme[173] aqui! (here I am!) ihetelos[173] aqui! (here they are, etc.)

[Footnote 173: Te—ethical dative.]

VOCABULARY.

=aficionado (a)=, fond of =aflojar=, to relax =ansioso=, eager =*apetecer=, to desire, to covet =bastante bien=, fairly well =berzas, coles= (f.), cabbages =buscar=, to look for, to search =buscarse=, to bring upon oneself =cauteloso, cauto=, cautious =conexiones=, connections, couplings (machinery) =contrincante=, neighbour, competitor =detenidamente=, fully =disturbado, transtornado=, disturbed, upset =engranajes=, gearings =escala=, scale =hortelano=, fruit gardener =inquilino=, tenant =ir a=, to lead to =llantas=, tyres =*moler=, to grind =operaciones=, operations, dealings =perro=, dog =plaza=, market place, square, place =*poner al corriente=, to inform =refran=, proverb =repentino=, sudden =resortes=, springs (mach.) =sosa=, soda =tambores=, drums =traspapelado=, mislaid (of papers)

EXERCISE 1 (59).

Translate into English—

1. A menos que los giros vengan acompanados de los conocimientos y facturas comerciales y consulares (invoices and consular invoices) no los recogeremos.

2. Le remito poder en forma (regular power of attorney) para que V. pueda representarme y hacer mis veces ahi.

3. Cuando me pague lo que me debe veremos lo que proceda hacer (what ought to be done).

4. V. no hace mencion en su atenta de los engranajes, conexiones, llantas y resortes de nuestro pedido 2 del que rige, no sea que se haya traspapelado nuestra orden.

5. Para comprar barato no hay sino que pagar puntualmente sus facturas.

6. Aunque es hombre muy dificil de tratar, sus ordenes son muy apetecidas de los fabricantes porque su palabra una vez empenada (pledged) es oro molido (as good as gold).

7. Aunque me pagara mas no se lo daria pues ya tengo empenada mi palabra.

8. Asi como le vio le puso al corriente de las circunstancias.

9. Con tal que el mercado afloje un tantico procurare plazar su orden para 50 tambores de sosa, a su limite.

10. Con que nuestros contrincantes se porten con lealtad no tenemos derecho de quejarnos de su competencia.

11. Segun lo prueba la experiencia mas vale ir cautelosos en aquellos mercados.

12. No deseo buscarme molestias ni meterme en camisa de once varas (meddle in other people's business).

13. Hace como el perro del hortelano que no come las berzas ni las deja comer.

14. iCaramba! ?Se viene V. con refranes en una gramatica comercial?

15. iCalle, hombre! Todos los caminitos van a la plaza (all roads lead to Rome); los espanoles son muy aficionados a los refranes.

EXERCISE 2 (60).

Translate into Spanish—

1. These 200 pieces will not go in that case, it is too small.

2. I do not think they will, either.

3. I cannot say anything before I see the result, but I shall be able to tell you something definite to-morrow.

4. Not being able to compete, he has withdrawn from the market.

5. I could not confirm the agreement last week.

6. I believe I could buy a parcel of wheat cheaper to-day unless there should be a sudden rise.

7. In spite of all his efforts, he was obliged to file his petition.

8. Although the market here is firm, we have hopes (esperamos) that prices will relax in view of the bearish tone (tendencia a la baja) shown in the Liverpool market yesterday.

9. The enclosed pattern is rather (algo) poor; still, as it appears to sell well in Central Africa, I should be glad if you would see your way (decidirse) to manufacture it at our price.

10. The new presses (prensas) work fairly well; there is, however, room (lugar) for improvement, and our engineer will write you fully on some proposed modifications.

11. He signed the documents without even (siquiera) reading them, so upset was he by the news the mail had just brought him; therefore we shall be obliged if you will kindly send them back for his perusal and return (para que los examine y se los envie otra vez).

12. Provided you take a lease of these premises (tome en arriendo este local) for a period of ten years, I shall make the necessary alterations, since I am very eager to have you as a tenant.

13. Although the demand for money is no longer so strong, the market is still under the control (dominio) of the Bank of England, to which it is now indebted for (debe) a considerable amount, and dealings are but on a comparatively small scale.