sacudir

[rolfdog]

Its unusual to see a spanish billboard where I live in the states as we do not have a large hispanic population. But this one caught my eye mainly because I believe its incorrect Spanish.

Nunca sacuda a el bebe. (The a ending on sacudir is what I read.)

Does "nunca" take the subjunctive?? I cant find where "nunca" requires the subjunctive. I also noted that "a el" could have been "al" but that is only voluntary if one wants to use the contraction.

Any thoughts??

Steve

 

[xamaicano]

Sacuda in this sense is the imperative conjugation of sacudir of usted. Not sure why a contraction wasn't use as it is not voluntary. Are you sure it wasn't "Nunca sacuda a un bebe?" Never shake a baby. If not then in should be al bebe unless "el bebe" is a proper name.

 

[rolfdog]

Thanks, that makes sense, the imperative is used, which uses the subjunctive conjugation in the formal (usted). It read "a el". The use of the contraction is mandatoy? Good to know.

Thanks again.

 

[Chip00]

Its unusual to see a spanish billboard where I live in the states as we do not have a large hispanic population. But this one caught my eye mainly because I believe its incorrect Spanish.

Nunca sacuda a el bebe. (The a ending on sacudir is what I read.)

Does "nunca" take the subjunctive?? I cant find where "nunca" requires the subjunctive. I also noted that "a el" could have been "al" but that is only voluntary if one wants to use the contraction.

Any thoughts??

Steve

Sacuda is the imperitive as mentioned but is also the formal Ud. version - the informal would be "sacude" - like using "Vayase" instead of "Vete".

 

[Marianopolita]

Basic errors in Spanish on signs-

Unfortunately that is a common error in Spanish among those who have poor grammar control when they write and notably in the USA (but in the DR too). I have stopped counting the instances I see this error in Spanish in all types of writing- internet, signs, email etc. There are only two contractions in Spanish and they are obligatory. Al is the contraction of a + el (the definite article). Del is the contraction of de + el (the definite article). However, do not confuse this with a ?l (the subject pronoun) or de ?l (the subject pronoun) or when 'el' is part of a title- El Comercio. These forms are not contracted.

IMO the sign you saw is an example of an error that should not happen especially on a sign that thousands of people will read. It's a poor representation of usage of the language and lack of knowledge of the basics. You should see the amount of errors in Spanish on signs in La Guardia airport in New York. Again I stopped counting. I believe that those who are hired to write billboard signs in Spanish or any kind of public message should be grammatically qualified and the signs proofread.


-LDG.

 

[Norma Rosa]

Sacuda is the imperitive as mentioned but is also the formal Ud. version - the informal would be "sacude" - like using "Vayase" instead of "Vete".

?NO! The imperative (informal) is: Nunca sacudas al beb?

 

[Norma Rosa]

Chip, here is some help with the imperative:
ar er ir verbs
hablar comer vivir
(informal) ?Habla! (talk!) ?Come! (eat!) ?Vive! (live!)
(formal) ?Hable! ?Coma! ?Viva!

NEGATIVE COMMANDS
(informal) ?No hables! ?No comas! ?No vivas!
(formal) ?No hable! ?No coma! ?No viva!

 

[Chip00]

?NO! The imperative (informal) is: Nunca sacudas al beb?

Now, now don't go blowing a gasket, tsk tsk - you're right:ermm: - The negative imperative always takes the informal second person form while the positive form has both the informal "Tu" and formal "Usted" forms.:glasses:

 

[Norma Rosa]

Now, now don't go blowing a gasket, tsk tsk - you're right:ermm: - The negative imperative always takes the informal second person form while the positive form has both the informal "Tu" and formal "Usted" forms.:glasses:

Ja, ja, ja..... I like you.

By the way, did you read (study) my lesson?

Chip, ?cu?ntos a?os llevas en Rep. Dom.?

 

[Chip00]

Ja, ja, ja..... I like you.

By the way, did you read (study) my lesson?

Chip, ?cu?ntos a?os llevas en Rep. Dom.?

Hey I like you too! - but don't be telling the wife that - she is one of those Mocanas - you know those "matas presidentes"!!!!!

No I didn't see your lesson - what's the thread?

I have been living here a year now and have been married to the "mata presidente" for 7 and she don't speak a lick of English nor anybody in her family.

 

[Chip00]

Norma

Oh now I see your thread - I didn't notice it because I was typing in my response(I'm a slow typer).

Also, it is interesting that you say there are informal and formal versions of the imperative - I could only find that the formal was used online. Is your grammar source online? - if so post the link as I'm sure it would be helpful to all.

Muy atentamente

Chip

 

[Norma Rosa]

Norma

Oh now I see your thread - I didn't notice it because I was typing in my response(I'm a slow typer).

Also, it is interesting that you say there are informal and formal versions of the imperative - I could only find that the formal was used online. Is your grammar source online? - if so post the link as I'm sure it would be helpful to all.

Muy atentamente

Chip

I am my source. (ja, ja ,ja Excuse my ego.)
Really, I rely on my knowledge of the Spanish language. I was born and raised in the DR. English is my second language.

Here is a short lesson on the imperative
AR verbs: callar - bailar
Formal imperative: Letter "a" changes to "e" - c?llese (estese callado) ?Baile!
Informal: c?llate (estate callado) ?Baila!

ER verbs: (comer)
Formal: Letter "e" changes to "a" ?Coma! (?C?mase su comida!)
Informal: ?Come! (?C?mete tu comida!)

IR verbs: Same as "ER" verbs (sufrir)
Formal: ?Sufra!
Informal: ?Sufre!

Con absoluto respeto,
Norma

 

[Norma Rosa]

Norma

Oh now I see your thread - I didn't notice it because I was typing in my response(I'm a slow typer).

Also, it is interesting that you say there are informal and formal versions of the imperative - I could only find that the formal was used online. Is your grammar source online? - if so post the link as I'm sure it would be helpful to all.

Muy atentamente

Chip

I don't use any grammar source. Spanish is my native language. I was born and raised in the beloved DR. (English is my second language.)

Here is a short lesson on the imperative
AR verbs: callar - bailar
Formal imperative: Letter "a" changes to "e" - c?llese (estese callado) ?Baile!
Informal: c?llate (estate callado) ?Baila!

ER verbs: (comer)
Formal: Letter "e" changes to "a" ?Coma! (?C?mase su comida!)
Informal: ?Come! (?C?mete tu comida!)

IR verbs: Same as "ER" verbs (sufrir)
Formal: ?Sufra!
Informal: ?Sufre!

Con absoluto respeto,
Norma