PREFACE
Reading edition
This book aims to teach Spanish idiom. The greatest hindrance to the use of idiomatic Spanish lies in the failure to realize that common English words have various Spanish meanings.
To meet this difficulty, the notes and exercises of Spanish Composition are focused on the errors beginners most frequently make. For instance, attention is drawn to the fact that words like up, down, out, in, away are usually included in the Spanish verb, which is often entirely different from the English expression. Thus, while "to get" is obtener, "to get up" is levantarse.
Of course the treatment cannot be exhaustive, but enough examples are given to show the pupil the necessity of thinking before translating even the commonest words and phrases. The aim has been to give a simple and specific discussion of everyday expressions rather than to try to cover the entire field of Spanish idiom.
About two hundred and fifty quotations from famous Spanish authors illustrate the various idioms and acquaint the learner with the great names of Spanish literature.
I wish to express my hearty thanks to Dr. Harry Kurz of Carleton College, and to my colleagues in the Minneapolis High Schools, Señor Fernando García and Señor Julius Arrieta, who have read the work either in manuscript or in proof.
Edith J. Broomhall.
Central High School, Minneapolis, Minnesota. January, 1921.
CONTENTS
PAGE
LESSON I. English to be1
LESSON II. The verb to ask4
English for5
LESSON III. The verb to have7
English to be to8
LESSON IV. English since10
The verb to go10
LESSON V. English long13
The word before14
The verb to know14
LESSON VI. English to get16
LESSON VII. Review exercises19
LESSON VIII. The verb to look or look at20
English little20
English there21
LESSON IX. The verb to grow23
The word just23
LESSON X. English after26
The verb to help27
LESSON XI. English here29
English well29
The verb to hold30
LESSON XII. The adverb so32
English to keep33
LESSON XIII. Review exercises35
LESSON XIV. English to leave37
To let38
LESSON XV. English now40
English about41
To be about to41
The verb to feel41
LESSON XVI. English will43
The word all43
LESSON XVII. The word way46
The adjective hard47
The verb to give47
LESSON XVIII. The verb to think49
The verb to make49
LESSON XIX. The verb to miss52
Emphasis in Spanish52
LESSON XX. Review exercises55
LESSON XXI. English time57
The verb to like58
LESSON XXII. Very as an adverb60
The verb to play61
The verb to need61
LESSON XXIII. The verb to please63
The verb to mean64
Without64
LESSON XXIV. The word only66
Alone, single67
The verb to hear67
LESSON XXV. English right69
English must70
LESSON XXVI. The verb to appear72
The verb to succeed72
The word even73
Toward73
LESSON XXVII. Review exercises75
LESSON XXVIII. The verb to sit77
To stand77
English corner78
LESSON XXIX. English self80
Last80
The verb to tell81
LESSON XXX. To save83
To see83
Half84
LESSON XXXI. The word as86
LESSON XXXII. The verb to want89
Either, or89
Neither90
Because90
LESSON XXXIII. The verb to wonder92
The one93
LESSON XXXIV. Review exercises95
LESSON XXXV. The verb to take97
LESSON XXXVI. The word ever100
The verb to pass100
The verb to pay or pay for101
LESSON XXXVII. The verb to turn103
LESSON XXXVIII. English can and could106
To ring107
English but107
LESSON XXXIX. The verb to put109
LESSON XL. To strike112
Spanish vez meaning time112
The verb to start113
LESSON XLI. The verb to do115
Adverbial expressions115
LESSON XLII. Review exercises118
APPENDIX121
SPANISH-ENGLISH VOCABULARY1
ENGLISH-SPANISH VOCABULARY19
AUTHORS QUOTED
CervantesDon Quijote
EchegarayEl Poder de la Impotencia, Siemore en Ridículo, El Hijo de Don Juan
Gil y ZárateGuzmán el Bueno
CampoamorPoems
CastelarRecuerdos y Esperanzas
AlarcónEl Capitán Veneno, Short Stories
Pérez GaldósElectra, Celia en los Infiernos
Pardo BazánLa Piedra Angular, Short Stories
ValeraPepita Jiménez
BenaventeLa Princesa Bebé, La Malquerida, El Collar de Estrellas
Palacio ValdésJosé, La Hermana San Sulpicio
Eduardo MarquinaEl Rey Trovador
Martínez SierraTeatro de Ensueño
Los QuinteroMalvaloca, Doña Clarines, Manana de Sol, Los Galeotes
EscrichFortuna
De LarraPartir a Tiempo
Blasco IbañezLos Cuatro Jinetes del Apocalipse
José MármolAmalia
Ramos CarriónZaragüeta, La Muela del Juicio