Si a él le da hambre en casa, esta limitada a lo que hay aqui.

Question

The above statement ,
comes from one of the lessons on the Rosetta Stone Spanish learning CD - and translates:

"If he got hungry at home, he would be limited to what is there.
(used in contrast to being in a restaurant where there would be more choices)

Is this the only way, or just one of many ways of expressing the same thought?

It is expressions like the first four: Si a él le da that gives me the most problems as well as "lo que"

melvinhc

Answer 1

Si a él le da hambre en casa, esta limitado a lo que hay aquí.

I suppose this was a misspelling.

I must say, this sentence sounds strange, first of all.

dar hambre: this is not the word to use in spain. We would say: entrar hambre

Si le entra hambre...

In any case, a él and le are pronouns and can be either used together or simply le, as I used it.

Lo que = what
que=that

Answer 2

Heidita said:

Si a él le da hambre en casa, esta limitado a lo que hay aquí.I suppose this was a misspelling.I must say, this sentence sounds strange, first of all.dar hambre: this is not the word to use in spain. We would say: entrar hambreSi le entra hambre...In any case, a él and le are pronouns and can be either used together or simply le, as I used it.Lo que = whatque=that

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Answer 3

Muchas Gracias Heidita,

Yes, that was a mispelling in the first line and should have been "limitada" instead of limitado.

I find the use of the word "entra" interesing and I suppose it to menan "If he was hungry inside".
It is also interesting that by simply adding "lo" in front of "Que" it translates to what.since que
by itself would = "that".
Very helpful. Again thanks

Melvinhc

Answer 4

I'd say that "dar hambre" is correct only if there is a subject for it:

Ver tanta comida me da hambre.

Heidi's construction, on the other hand, means "start to feel something".

Answer 5

Melvinhc said:

Muchas I find the use of the word "entra" interesing and I suppose it to menan "If he was hungry inside". It is also interesting that by simply adding "lo" in front of "Que" it translates to what.since que by itself would = "that".

The word "lo" can sometimes be translated as "what", but not in other contexts. It works more often if you translate it as "the thing(s) (that)", and once you get the idea, you refine the translation, with "what" or whichever applies:

Limitado a lo que hay aquí = limited to the things that there are here
Lo mismo = the same thing
Lo que te dije = The thing that I told you

The above sentences in English are not the best translation, of course. It was just to show this "thing" word in use.

Answer 6

Dar hambre is correct.

Heidita said:

Si a él le da hambre en casa, esta limitado a lo que hay aquí.I suppose this was a misspelling.I must say, this sentence sounds strange, first of all.dar hambre: this is not the word to use in spain. We would say: entrar hambreSi le entra hambre...In any case, a él and le are pronouns and can be either used together or simply le, as I used it.Lo que = whatque=that

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Answer 7

Casimiro said:

Dar hambre is correct.

I agree with Heidi: in that sentence it sounds strange, and it is because when this verb is used with feelings, it is transitive, and it requires a subject for the verb to be used. If it is used intransitively like "entrar" somewhere, it is a regional use, and not standard Spanish.