LESSON XXII
Reading edition
En cosas de fe, para ver claro hay que ser ciego.[22]
—CAMPOAMOR.
63. Very as an adverb is muy. As an adjective it is mismo, -a. When it stands alone it is mucho. Very much is always mucho or muchísimo.
He was a very intelligent man, fortunate in his mining business.
Era hombre muy inteligente, afortunado en su comercio de minas.—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
This very afternoon I will go to his house.
Esta misma tarde iré a su casa.—LOS QUINTERO.
"I shall be very glad," she said with a smile.
Me alegraré mucho,—dijo con una sonrisa.—JUAN VALERA.
It would be very much better to leave it for the present.
Sería muchísimo mejor dejarlo por lo pronto.
(a) Emphatic very is often translated by the suffixes -ísimo and -ito.
There did not appear to be any internal injury, but he did have a very high fever.
Lesión interior no parecía que hubiese, pero sí tenía fievre altísima.
—EMILIA PARDO BAZÁN.
She fell ill, very, VERY ill. The doctor said she was going to die.
Se puso mala, muy malita. El médico dijo que iba a morir.
—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
64. The verb to play is translated jugar a when it means to play games or take a part in a drama. To play instruments is rendered tocar.
The children were playing in the street. They were playing ball.
Los niños jugaban en la calle. Jugaban a la pelota.
And the woman, what part does SHE play in all this?
Y la mujer, ¿qué papel juega ella en todo ello?
—EMILIA PARDO BAZÁN.
Go and play the piano so that these gentlemen may hear you.
Vete a tocar el píano para que estos señores te oigan.
—PÉREZ GALDÓS.
65. The verb to need is rendered either necesitar, hacer falta, or faltar.
What this boy needs is the pure air of the country.
Lo que le hace falta a ese muchacho es el aire puro del campo.—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
I do not need to inform you that first I asked for the other one.
No necesito advertirle a Vd. que primero pedí la otra.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
The tea isn't needed now. You may take it away.
Ya no hace falta el té. Puede Ud. llevárselo.
—RAMOS CARRIÓN.
Less than this was necessary to satisfy the hearers.
Menos de eso se necesitaba para satisfacer los oyentes.
—EMILIA PARDO BAZÁN.
Note the order in the first example and compare with Sections 51, note, and 60.
66. EXERCISES
(a) 1. A él no le hace falta (no le falta) mucho, pero a mí me hacen falta (me faltan) muchas cosas. 2. Necesito un hombre que cuide de los caballos. 3. Su casa es muchísimo más grande que la nuestra. 4. ¿Quién ha jugado (or hecho) el papel de Shylock en la representación de anoche? 5. Tan cansaditos estaban que se acostaron en cuanto llegaron. 6. Llévatelo, que a mí no me hace ninguna falta. 7. Los ví esta misma mañana. Parecían contentísimos. 8. En la casa siempre hay que hablar quedito porque siempre hay alguien que está durmiendo. 9. Tomó en la suya la manecita. La temperatura estaba altísima. 10. Lo primero que hace falta para querer es el corazón.
(b) 1. You do not need to tell me that. I know it already. 2. I heard somebody playing the violin. 3. That is the very book I need. Will you lend it to me? 4. She needs a nurse to take care of the children. 5. (Be) very, very quiet! Mother's asleep. 6. I do like that penknife, but I don't need one. 7. The street is very long and very, very narrow. 8. The little girls are very pretty. My little daughter likes to play with them. 9. The last time they were here they gave me many things that I needed. 10. Are they satisfied with (de) what you have sent them? Oh, yes, very.