ENCENDER / APAGAR

 ENCENDER / APAGAR

En inglés existen distintos términos para expresar las acciones de encender  y apagar, dependiendo del objeto que reciba dichas acciones.

Un motor: start ---- switch off

Un aparato eléctrico: turn on / switch on ---- turn off / turn out / switch off

Cerilla: strike ---- blow out (soplando); stuff out (con los dedos)

Vela: light ---- blow out (soplando); stuff out (con los dedos)

Incendio, cigarrillo, fuego, llamas...: light; catch (prender); break out (espontáneamente) ---- put out; quench; extinguish; die down[1]

Incendio activo, en llamas: on fire

Ordenador, sistema: start up / boot (up) ---- shut down

 

Extintor: fire extinguisher

Apagador de velas: stuffer

Llama: flame / naked flame

Incendio: fire

Chispa: spark

Ascua, rescoldo: ember

Apagar apretando (cigarillo…): stub out

 

          Don’t forget to shut the system down

          Firemen put the fire out in two hours’ time

          The fire is starting to die down.

          The fire is completely gone out

          She stroke a match to light her cigar

          These logs are wet: they won't catch.

          I turn the radio on and off with the remote control

          He set the bonfire alight

          The left engine is on fire

          The whole building was soon ablaze.

          Cars and buses were set ablaze during the riot

          A group of youths had set fire to an old truck.

          The log was burning for over one hour, but finally went out

          Use a safety screen for protection from flames and embers.

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[1] Cuando el incendio se apaga solo: go out

STILL / YET / ALREADY / ANYMORE

La elección de estos adverbios producen una gran vacilación entre los hispanohablantes a la hora de emplearlos.

	Todavía/aún	Ya
Afirmativo	Still	Alredy
Negativo	Yet Still (con énfasis)	Any more / no longer
Interrogativo	Yet Still	Yet (no lo sé) Alredy (presumo que sí) Still (expresa extrañeza)

Para verbos que no expresan una continuidad[1] en la acción: 

          Has Chus achieved the English B2 level yet?

                    ~Yes, she already has achieved the English B2 level.

                    ~No, she hasn’t achieved the English B2 level yet.

 

          Hasn't Chus achieved the English B2 level yet?

 

Para verbos que expresan continuidad[2] en la acción o estado:

 

          Is Chus still living in Alberite?

                    ~Yes, she is still living in Alberite?

                    ~No, she isn’t living in Alberite anymore because she is                              living inVillamediana now.

 

          Is Chus still working at Armendariz’s?

                    ~Yes, she is still working at Armendariz’s

                    ~No, she isn’t working at Armendariz’s anymore because                          she is working at SOS Rioja now.

 

          Is Chus working now?

                    ~Yes, Chus is working now.

                    ~No, Chus isn’t working now.

 

          Does Chus still collect stamps?

                    ~Yes, Chus still collects stamps.

                    ~No, Chus doesn’t collect stamps anymore.

 

          Doesn’t Chus collect stamps anymore?

 

          Does Chus still take vitamin C tablets every day?

                    ~Yes, Chus still take vitamin C tablets every day

                    ~No, Chus doesn’t any longer take vitamin C tablets                                  every day

                    ~No, Chus no longer takes vitamin C tablets every day.

    

          Is still the box on the table?

                    ~Yes, the box is still on the table.

                    ~No, the box isn't on the table anymore.

 

          Isn't the box on the table anymore?

 

        Do you still have any coins in your wallet?

          ~Yes, I still have some coins in my wallet

          ~No, I no longer have some coins in my wallet                       

 

Yet: no continuidad en la acción del verbo → (-) (?-) (?+)

Still: continuidad en la acción del verbo o estado → (+) (?+)

Already: no continuidad en la acción del verbo → (+)

Any more / no longer: continuidad en la acción del verbo → (-) (?-)

 

Tip: Si podemos sustituir en español estos adverbios y los verbos a los que modifican por las perífrasis verbales seguir / continuar + verbo en gerundio, utilizaremos still o anymore / no longer.

 

No matter how many times I tell Chus to be less bossy, she is still bossy (… Chus continúa siendo mandona)

 

Is still the box on the table? (¿Sigue estando la caja sobre la mesa?)

 

Does still Antonio Brea write books? (¿Antonio sigue escribiendo libros?)

 

Did Antonio Brea write his latest book yet? (¿Siguió Antonio escribiendo su último libro?) 

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[1] Hay verbos que pueden expresar tanto continuidad como no continuidad en su acción. En estos casos habrá que estar al contexto. Did Antonio Brea write his latest book yet? /  Does still Antonio Brea write books?

[2] Los verbos en gerundio denotan continuidad en la acción. They were still laughing about the experience years later.

ADVICE / TIP / HINT / POINTER

Advise es un nombre incontable que significa 'consejo' en sentido general. Por su condición de sustantivo incontable no irá precedido de los determinantes a o the ni de adjetivos numerales.

Let me give you some advice

Let me give you a piece of advice.

Let me give you an advice.

Take just two advises on how to cook hake. 

Follow your doctor's advice.

Ask your teacher for advice on how to prepare for the exam.

We were advised to seek legal advice.

A word of advice. Don't wear that dress.

Take my advice. Don't do it.

I chose it on his advice.

Tip es un nombre contable que también significa 'consejo', pero en este caso circunscrito a una situación concreta.

He gave me a useful/helpful/valuable/practical tip about/for growing lettuces.  

This week's magazine has some tips on healthy eating.

handy/useful tips for decorating a small flat         

gardening tips         

        tip-off noun: dato; soplo; chivatazo.

         The man was arrested after an anonymous tip-off.

     Customs officers had received a tip-off about a shipment of cocaine.

     He was arrested after a tip-off to police.

          tip off verbo: avisar; pasar el dato; dar el chivatazo.

          Somebody had tipped him off — alguien le había avisado  

Hint (on something) [usually plural]: se trata de una indicación, información o pista que puede resultar de ayuda o utilidad.

The teacher’s book gives useful hints on how to develop reading skills.

They offer handy hints on saving money

Pointer (on something) [usually plural]: significa 'consejo' y se utiliza en un registro informal. 

Here are some pointers on how to go about the writing task.

My coach gave me a few pointers on how to hold the racket.

Verbos ya referidos que se omiten al ser sustituidos por TO

 

Si hay un verbo que se puede omitir (para no repetirlo), agregamos to como preposición o marca sintáctica de infinitivo.

She wants to go, but I don't want to go → She wants to go, but I don't want to [go].

Will you go if I ask you to [go]?

Would you have done the housework if she had asked you to [do].

ESPECIALLY/ SPECIALLY

Especially significa 'sobre todo' o 'particularmente'.

She loves flowers, especially roses.

I am especially grateful to all my family and friends who supported me.

It rains a lot, especially in the north.

All my family loves music. My father, especially, goes to as many concerts as he can.

Por su parte, specially significa 'especialmente para' y denota el propósito o la finalidad de aquello de lo que se está hablando.

This kitchen was specially designed to make it easy for a disabled person to use.

He has his shirts made specially for him by a tailor in Oxford Street.

En algunos casos podremos intercambiarlos:

I bought these (e)specially for you.

El adjetivo especial no se suele utilizar en inglés, normalmente se emplea special.

It’s my special chair

He is a very special friend for me

It is a really special ocasion

IDIOT /STUPID / DUMB / SILLY / FOOL

 

Idiot n. imbécil, persona de capacidad mental disminuida.

You idiot, look what you've done!

     Dummy n. es la forma coloquial de idiot.

       I don't know the guy, but he isn't a dummy, believe me.

Stupid adj. falto de luces, poco espabilado. Puede ser usado de forma ofensiva.

I’ll never do anything so stupid again nunca volveré a cometer semejante estupidez

Don’t do anything stupid, will you? no vayas a hacer alguna tontería, ¿eh?

It’s stupid to leave money lying around es de tontos dejar el dinero a la vista de todos.

It was stupid of me to say that fui tonto al decir eso.

            To make sb look stupid dejar a alguien en ridículo

Dumb adj. significa lo mismo que stupid, pero no es tan fuerte y ofensivo.

Don’t be so dumb! ¡no seas bobo!

That was a really dumb thing I did! ¡lo que hice fue una verdadera tontería!

He says some dumb things! ¡dice cada bobada!

Silly adj. poco serio. Es utilizado manera más cariñosa que stupid. An intelligent person may be silly because they decide to do silly things.

I feel silly in this hat me siento ridículo con este sombrero

That was silly of you

I’ve done a silly thing he hecho una tontería ⧫ he sido un tonto

Fool n. es alguien a quien se le puede engañar fácilmente porque es cándido y crédulo. También se dice una persona que toma decisiones equivocadas por ser irreflexivo.

Don’t be a fool! ¡no seas tonto!

        To make a fool of sb: engañar o embaucar a alguien.

To play/act the fool: hacer el tonto.

To make a fool of os: hacer el ridículo.

To fool around v. gastar o perder el tiempo haciendo cosas futiles; tontear con alguien o algo.

 Don't fool around with matches!

Fool v. engañar; bromear.

You can't fool me a mí no me engañas

When she first told us that she was getting married, we thought she was fooling.

Foolish adj. tonto, insensato.

It was foolish of me to accept the invitation.

HAVE CAUSATIVO

 

SUJETO + HAVE + COMPLEMENTO DE COSA + PARTICIPIO

 

    En inglés existe esta peculiar estructura con have o get para indicar que la acción expresada por el participio no la hace personalmente el sujeto, sino que es llevada a cabo por un tercero. 

He has (gets) his shirts made specially for him by a tailor in London (presente habitual)

He has (gets) his car serviced in the garage every year

Le revisan el coche todos los años en el taller (presente habitual)

Do[1] you have (get) your car serviced in the garage every year?

¿Te hacen la revisión del coche todos los años en el taller? (presente habitual)

Do you have your windows cleaned every week? ~No, I don’t have

them cleaned; I clean them myself once a month (presente habitual)

¿Te limpian las ventanas todas las semanas? ~No, no me las limpian; lo hago yo mismo una vez al mes

I have to have my tooth pulled out. Me tengo que sacar un diente

How often did you have your hair cut? ¿Cada cuanto tiempo te cortabas el pelo? (pasado simple)

I have had (got) my car serviced in the same office since 2012 (present perfect)

I have had (got) my hair cut in the same hairdresser’s for five years (present perfect)

I have had this metal analyzed in the laboratory (present perfect)

I just hope my guitar will sound all right when I’ve had it repaired

Espero que mi guitarra suene bien cuando la haya reparado ( tb. I have had it repeared).

I had (got) my house sold very soon (pasado simple)

Me vendieron la casa en poco tiempo

I had (got) my car bought (past perfect)

Me han comprado el coche

My cat is unable to have kittens because I had her operated on

Mi gata no puede tener crías porque la esterilicé (pasado simple)

My cat is... because I have had her operated on

Mi gata... porque la he esterilizado (past perfect)

She didn’t have (get) her lemon tree pruned once a month and much less once a week

No le podaban su limonero una vez al mes y mucho menos una vez a la semana

I am going to have (get) my hair cut after tomorow

Me van a cortar el pelo pasado mañana

Jenny will have her ears pierced
Jenny se va a hacer perforar las orejas

Liz and Meg are having their hair dyed

Liz y Meg se están tiñendo el pelo

You should have your eyes checked

Deberías hacerte revisar los ojos

I wouldn’t have (get) anything repaired at that shop anymore, if I were you

 Si fuera tú, ya no repararía nada más en esa tienda.

Have your hair cut!

¡Córtate el pelo!

We want to have our car fixed

Queremos que nos arreglen el coche

Do you like having your pictures taken?

¿Te gusta hacerte (que te hagan) fotos?

How do you fell about having your English corrected?

¿Qué piensas de que te corrijan tu inglés?

Why did you have the picture removed?

¿Por qué has hecho retirar el cuadro? (No importa quién lo ha hecho materialmente).

Why did you have them removed the picture? ¿Por qué has hecho que   ellos quiten el cuadro? (Importa quién lo ha hecho materialmente).

    La forma causativa también se usa para expresar un hecho desagradable que le ha ocurrido a alguien con alguna pertenencia

He had his fruit stolen before he had the chance to pick it up

Le robaron la fruta antes de que pudiera recogerla

He had his arm broken in the accident

Se rompió un brazo en el accidente

He had (got) the stitches taken out yesterday

Le quitaron los puntos ayer

King Charles I had his head chopped off

Al rey Carlos I le cortaron la cabeza

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[1] Have en estas estructuras no funciona como verbo auxiliar, así que requerirá de do para negar y preguntar.