LESSON XIV

El hombre que se avergüenza de ser feliz debe andar en cuatro pies.[14]—Tomayo y Baus.

37. English to leave has three principal translations. Meaning to depart it is rendered partir; meaning to go out of it is salir; and meaning to allow to remain it is dejar.

He left for London yesterday.

Partió para Londres ayer.

For two months I haven't been able to leave the house.

Hace dos meses que no puedo salir de la casa.

—RAMOS CARRIÓN.

The train had left him in the East station.

El tren le había dejado en la estación del Este.

—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.

(a) In the sense of to let, dejar is used.

Leave the poor child alone! He's not bothering you.

¡Déjale al pobre niño! No te molesta a tí.

(b) To leave off in the sense of to stop is rendered dejar de or cesar de, followed by the infinitive.

He left off coming when he found out that he was not congenial to us.

Dejó de venir cuando supo que no nos era simpático.

—BENAVENTE.

(c) To have something left is translated quedar or sobrar.

I know you have no time left for social life.

Ya sé que no le sobra tiempo para la vida social.—PÉREZ GALDÓS.

I used to have a lot, but I have very little left now.

Antes tenía mucho, pero me queda muy poco ahora.

I gave him four, but he has only two left now.

Le dí cuatro, pero ya no le quedan más de dos.

Note.—In this construction notice that the English subject becomes the indirect object of the verbs quedar and sobrar, while the thing "left" is the subject. The Spanish says literally, to him are left only two. Note also the order: object, verb, subject.

38. To let, meaning to allow, is rendered dejar.

The poor woman has died of fatigue. Let her rest in peace.

La pobre mujer ha muerto de fatiga. Dejadla que descanse en paz.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.

(a) When let is used with the third person in the sense of a command it is translated by que with the subjunctive. When the verb is in the first person plural, the que is omitted.

Let John take these letters to the post-office at once.

Que Juan lleve estas cartas al correo en seguida.

Let's go now. No, let us sit down here for a moment.

Vámonos ahora. No, sentémonos aquí por unos momentos.

(b) To let in, out, up, down, through are translated dejar entrar, salir, subir, bajar, pasar por.

Don't let that dog in. I have just put him out.

No dejes entrar a ese perro. Acabo de hacerle salir.

They couldn't open the door, but they let me in through the window.

No podían abrir la puerta, pero me dejaron entrar por la ventana.

39. EXERCISES

(a) 1. Salga Vd. de la sala y no vuelva Vd. a entrar. 2. Si no han partido todavía, dígales que quiero verlos antes que se marchen. 3. No salimos de la casa antes que dejó de llover. 4. No sé si me dejarán acompañarla a usted. 5. Que vayan a traérmelo en seguida. 6. ¿Les sobrará mucho? Creo que sí. 7. Partimos mañana en el tren de la mañana. 8. Su madre no quiere dejarle acompañarnos. 9. Las mujeres dejaban sus ocupaciones de la casa y salían a las puertas. 10. Todavía me queda la pequeña casa que me dejó mi padre.

(b) 1. We will not let you leave until it leaves off raining. 2. They have all left their umbrellas at home. 3. When he had paid for his dinner he had two dollars left. 4. They left five minutes ago. 5. I have just one old umbrella left for myself. 6. Let Mary let them in through the kitchen door. 7. Let's ask him how many he has left. 8. If I have any money left after I have bought all the things that they are asking me for, I will let you take it. 9. We can't do much with what is left.