¿Quién eres? ¿Quiénes son tus padres?

Question

Hello,

I've just bought a self study book for learning Spanish - there are some writing tasks (habla y/o escribe). I answered a few questions from the book and I was wondering if you could cast an eye over them.

1. ¿Quién eres? ¿Quiénes son tus padres?
   Soy polaca y mis padres son polacos también.
   Soy profesora de inglés en la escuela de idiomas.
   Mis padres son jubilados.

2. ¿Quién es tu amigo? ¿Que hace?
   Mi amigo es ingeniero y trabaja en la central termoeléctrica.

3. ¿Donde estás?
   Estoy en el patio de recreo con mi hijo y mi marido.
   Estoy en mi habitación.
   Estoy en la oficina de Correos.

4. ¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo están tus padres?
   Estoy ocupada y cansada.
   Mi madre está alegre.
   No sé como mi padre está. or No sé como está mi padre. (I guess the first is correct)

Answer 1

1. ¿Quién eres? ¿Quiénes son tus padres?

Soy polaca y mis padres son polacos también.

Soy profesora de inglés en la escuela de idiomas.

Mis padres son jubilados.

1. ¿Quién es tu amigo? ¿Qué hace?

Mi amigo es ingeniero y trabaja en la central termoeléctrica.

1. ¿Donde estás?

Estoy en el patio de recreo con mi hijo y mi marido.

Estoy en mi habitación.

Estoy en la oficina de Correos.

1. ¿Cómo estás? ¿Cómo están tus padres?

Estoy ocupada y cansada.

Mi madre está alegre.

No sé como mi padre está . or No sé como está mi padre. (I guess the first is correct)

Both are correct... in theory, but the fist option sounds a bit like Yoda (from Star Wars), so you better use the second one, and avoid the first one.

You could also say, "con mi hijo y marido" although it doesn't sound wrong to say "mi" twice, just a little repetative, but I could hear somebody saying the same thing in English and it would sound fine.

"Mi hijo y mi marido" is perfect; "mi hijo y marido" would be someone who is at the same time your son and your husband.

Answer 2

Came across this through a SpanishDict post.

http://www.studyspanish.com/accents/typing.htm#winXP
That was real easy, and real fast. It works great! Thanks, Jason. I hadn't wanted to take time to wade through the long thread to find the easiest way.

Answer 3

I think Laza was concentrating on the grammar more than on tildes.

No sé cómo mi padre está . or No sé cómo está mi padre.

These cómo need an accent.-

Good job Izabela I have problems with these accents - usually I just copy and paste the one I need. I could use a list of Spanish characters below, just like in the 'practice' and 'write' sections of the course (they're below the message window: á, é, í, ó, ú, ¿, ¡, ü, ñ). It would definitely help with the spelling

Came across this through a SpanishDict post.
http://www.studyspanish.com/accents/typing.htm#winXP

Answer 4

Yes, that is frustrating, Izabela.

See this thread: http://www.spanishdict.com/answers/show/5273/

It is kind of long, but it gives you several different ways to type the characters.

I use Microsoft Word and then paste into the reply window. When I have more time, I will try to set up my keyboard differently.

Answer 5

I think Laza was concentrating on the grammar more than on tildes.

No sé cómo mi padre está . or No sé cómo está mi padre.

These cómo need an accent.-

Good job Izabela I have problems with these accents - usually I just copy and paste the one I need. I could use a list of Spanish characters below, just like in the 'practice' and 'write' sections of the course (they're below the message window: á, é, í, ó, ú, ¿, ¡, ü, ñ). It would definitely help with the spelling

Answer 6

I think Laza was concentrating on the grammar more than on tildes.

No sé cómo mi padre está . or No sé cómo está mi padre.

These cómo need an accent.

And Heidita also wins 3 "Get out of the Dunce Corner, Free" cards!!

I didn't even review the thread, assuming that the Doctor had treated it well and had it all sewed up.

Answer 7

I think Laza was concentrating on the grammar more than on tildes.

No sé cómo mi padre está . or No sé cómo está mi padre.

These cómo need an accent.-

Good job Izabela

Answer 8

1. ¿Dónde estás?
   Wow, Q! You caught an error that Lazarus missed! Impressive!

I think you should win 3 "Get out of the Dunce Corner, Free" cards for that one!!

Answer 9

Thanks Lazarus. I didn't realize that about "mi hijo y marido". Since that's probably not the case, I guess you probably shouldn't say that.

So...is that also true for English?

"I'm here with my son and husband."

Yes, and for the same reasoning, even though, if you omit the 2nd my the omission is normally assumed from context.

Improper usage often leads to confusion. If you say "I was wearing a green hat and silk shirt"...Did you mean to say that your shirt was also green or not?

If you said "I was wearing a white coat and shirt" I would assume both your coat and shirt are white. It's best to repeat your adjectives so there is no ambiguity. "I was wearing a white coat and a white shirt".

I would say that the common usage, however, is to repeat the adjective only when necessary to avoid confusion. "When he hurriedly left his office he left behind his coat and briefcase". (we assume the 2nd his, even though it would be more correct to state it).

1. ¿Dónde estás'

Answer 10

Thanks Lazarus. I didn't realize that about "mi hijo y marido". Since that's probably not the case, I guess you probably shouldn't say that.

So...is that also true for English?

"I'm here with my son and husband."

Answer 11

"No sé como está mi padre" is more correct.

You could also say, "con mi hijo y marido" although it doesn't sound wrong to say "mi" twice, just a little repetative, but I could hear somebody saying the same thing in English and it would sound fine.

The rest sounds pretty good to me, although I'm no native.