LESSON XXXI
Reading edition
El que presta a un amigo pierde el dinero y el amigo.[31]
—FERNÁN CABALLERO.
96. The word as as a conjunction of cause is rendered ya que, puesto que, or como.
As you have eaten nothing to-day, it occurred to me to get a supper for you to-night.
Como hoy no has comido nada, se me ocurrió prepararte una cena esta noche.—TOMAYO Y BAUS.
As they won't go with us, let's invite the others.
Ya que no quieren acompañarnos ellos, invitemos a los otros.
(a) As a conjunction of time or comparison it is como, but a temporal clause introduced by as may be rendered by al with the infinitive.
He had a slight acquaintance with foreign literature as many have to-day.
Tenía un ligero tinte de literatura extranjera como muchos lo tienen hoy.—FERNÁN CABALLERO.
As I entered the room, they all stopped talking.
Al entrar yo en la sala, todos dejaron de hablar.
(b) The correlative as ... as is rendered tan ... como, but as much ... as and as many ... as are rendered tanto ... como and tantos ... como.
My father was as charmed as ever with her.
Mi padre se mostró tan embelesado como siempre con ella.
—JUAN VALERA.
I have as much time as I need, and as many books as I want to read.
Tengo tanto tiempo como necesito y tantos libros como quiero leer.
The second as in these phrases may be translated cuanto, cuantos, or these words may be used to translate both the first and the second as.
I will buy you as much (as many) as you need.
Te compraré cuanto (cuantos) le hacen falta.
(c) As soon as may be translated literally tan pronto como, but it is also very frequently rendered así que, en cuanto, or luego que.
You are going to do it as soon as you know what I am going to tell you.
Lo vas a hacer en cuanto sepas lo que yo te voy a decir.
—LOS QUINTERO.
As soon as night had closed in, they went again to the judge's house.
Así que se cerró la noche se dirigieron otra vez a la casa del juez.
—PALACIO VALDÉS.
(d) As for, as far as ... is concerned, as regards ..., all may be translated en cuanto a or por lo que toca a. Otherwise, as far as is translated hasta.
As for him, he said that he had had them also.
En cuanto a él, dijo que las había tenido también.—JUAN VALERA.
"As for me," said old Peter, "I know it by heart."
Por lo que me toca a mí,—dijo el tío Perico,—lo sé de memoria.
—FERNÁN CABALLERO.
(e) When as introduces a clause the action of which is represented as occurring simultaneously with the action of the principal clause, it is translated a medida que.
The children drew their grandmother toward them as they spoke.
Los niños tiraron a su abuela hacia sí a medida que hablaban.
—FERNÁN CABALLERO.
97. EXERCISES
(a) 1. Sabes tan bien como yo lo que tenemos. 2. En cuanto me den el dinero, voy a Madrid. 3. Luego que venga la criada, pídeselo Vd. 4. A medida que las lanchas entraban en la ensenada, el grupo iba mermando poco a poco. 5. Al salir de la casa vieron al hombre que se escapaba. 6. Como yo le vi por última vez el año pasado, no sé si se acordará de mí. 7. Al fin y al cabo lo ha hecho como lo quiero yo. 8. Quieren que yo las acompañe hasta la iglesia. 9. Por lo que le toca a Juan, ya ha prometido darme el suyo. 10. Tengo cuantos necesito por lo pronto.
(b) 1. As I was walking in the park this morning I met an old friend. 2. As for you, some fine (good) day you are going to get what you deserve. 3. This is not so large as I wanted it. 4. Save your money as much as you can while you are young. 5. As for me myself, I spend as much as I earn. 6. Will you go as far as the corner with me? 7. They are studying Spanish as so many are doing now. 8. You must sign it as well as (tan bien como, or tanto como, lo mismo que) I. 9. As soon as I find the man who owes me all that money, I will lend you some. 10. As we approached the village, the sky was getting darker.