LESSON XIX
Reading edition
Los sabios en su vanidad suelen olvidarse de Dios.[19]
—BENAVENTE.
55. The verb to miss has two translations. Meaning to feel the absence of it is rendered echar de menos; meaning to note the absence of it is notar la falta de. To be missing is translated faltar.
Come! Go at once. Don't let them miss you.
¡Ea! ¡Vaya pronto! Que no le echen a Vd. de menos.
—ECHEGARAY.
When did you miss the things that your servant stole?
¿Cuándo ha notado usted la falta de las cosas que le robó su criado?
If I were missing, it is possible that the King might suspect.
Si yo faltara, es posible que el Rey sospechara.
—NUÑEZ DE ARCE.
One single boat was missing and that was not to come.
Faltaba una sola lancha y ésta no había de llegar.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
56. In English, emphasis is usually expressed by additional stress on the word to be emphasized. In Spanish this is not so common, emphasis being more generally expressed by the use of some emphatic word with the word to be emphasized. Such words are ¡vaya!, ¡toma!, ¡mira!, sí, sí.
Let money talk, I said. And it did talk.
Hable el dinero, dije. ¡Y toma si habló!
—MARIANO JOSÉ DE LARRA.
Nobody knows it, nobody! But I know it.
Nadie lo sabe, nadie. Pero yo sí lo sé.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
What an ovation she received!
¡Vaya si ha recibido una ovación!—LOS QUINTERO.
Do you remember? Do I remember!
¿Se acuerda usted? ¡(Vaya) si me acuerdo!
—LOS QUINTERO.
You are good! You are an angel!
¡Tú sí que eres buena! ¡Tú sí que eres un ángel!
—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
Emphasis in a negative sentence may be expressed by repeating the negative no at the end of the sentence or by using the phrase eso no at the end.
She hasn't stolen anything from me.
No me ha robado nada, eso no.—LOS QUINTERO.
The journey didn't tire me.
El viaje no me cansó, eso no.
I will not let him go, I tell you.
No le dejaré ir, te digo, que no.
(a) Personal pronouns in the nominative case are usually omitted. When emphasized, they must be expressed.
I'll help you if I have time.
Te ayudaré si tengo el tiempo.
I would help you if I had time.
Yo te ayudaría si tuviera el tiempo.
In the objective case these pronouns are emphasized by adding the disjunctive, or prepositional, form of the pronoun to the sentence.
You may say all you want to to me, but don't insult him.
A mí puede Vd. decirme cuanto quiera, pero no le ofenda a él.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
(b) To assert emphatic belief in a statement the expressions ¡ya lo creo!, ¡cómo no!, sí, por cierto, are used. Equivalent expressions in the negative form are ¡de ningún modó!, ¡no, por cierto!
He's coming at once, isn't he? Yes, indeed (certainly; why, of course).
Viene en seguida, ¿no? ¡Ya lo creo!—ECHEGARAY.
He's coming with us, isn't he? No, indeed.
Va a acompañarnos a nosotros, ¿no? No, por cierto.
57. EXERCISES
(a) 1. I won't do that. 2. What a pretty flower! 3. You won't do that! 4. That is good. 5. Will he come? I should say so! 6. Shall I give it to you? 7. No, give it to them. 8. He hasn't missed the money yet. 9. I miss all the good friends who used to live near me. 10. I don't know him, but I do know his brother. 11. Is that door open? I don't know, but I do know that I am cold. 12. My, but this lesson is hard! 13. Do you want it now? Certainly. 14. There's a pretty house! 15. They say they miss us at home. 16. I miss three of my books (say, three of my books are missing to me). 17. Do you want to go with her? I certainly do. 18. I shall miss you, but not the others. 19. There is something missing here and you know what it is. 20. I do not know.