Which will you do? y Which you will do?

Question

I just wanted to take the time to try to express this concept to those who are learning English. If someone could help me translate this to get the point across better I would appreciate it. I apologize from the beginning here, writing this requires an understanding of the subjunctive and of the differences between future tense and present tense(used to describe future events) that I am just not sufficiently informed enough to use.

In English these two phrases, "Which will you do?" and "Which you will do?" mean two different things.

The first is asking "which will you do?" and the second is asking about whether or not you will do it.

En inglés estas frases "Which will you do?" y "Which you will do?" significan dos cosas.
El primero está preguntando que "¿cuál le haces/haré/vas a hacer?", y el segundo estás preguntando de que "hagas algo." (clarificación que lo haré/haces algo)

Por ejemplo:

"Someone should clean the bathroom or sweep the floor, which will you do Daniel?"

--Hay que limpiar el baño, o barrer el suelo, cuáles les haces Daniel?--Dijo Susana Esta frase es como "¿cuál le haces/harás/vas a hacer?"

"My boss told me that I have to work at five in the morning!" Said Jorge

--¡El jefe me dijo que trabaje a las cinco de la mañana!-- Dijo Jorge

"And you will do it?" Responded Julien --¿y lo harás?--Contesto Julien

Estas frases son como "Which you will do?"

Sin embargo, creo que es possible que estuvieres (I'm drawing a blank for this rest of this sentence. cómo se dice "You will most likely be understood if you make a pause after "which," because in spoken English saying it like that makes it apparent what you mean?")

Answer 1

Estas frases son como "Which you will do?"

HI fred, nice thread, however, this structure is technically incorrect. It is certainly used, like in Spanish, but we must remember that the structure itself does not follow norm.

In Spanish we should say:

¿Cuál haces tú?

Buuuut, you can hear, especially by our friends from other Spanish countries,

¿Cuál tú haces?

This form is not used in Spain.

Oh, I see, like the question "¿Es Antonio trabajar?" (or something like that) I didn't realize that even subject pronouns switched in the interogative. - Fredbong, Sep 20, 2009

Answer 2

"Which will you do?" is a natural question form. "Which you will do." is a natural statement form. It only becomes a question if we use rising intonation as Spanish speakers do for questions. Therefore not easy to explain but you made a good attempt. However it may confuse people learning English rather than help them.

Oh, no, that is bad...eek, I appologize. - Fredbong, Sep 20, 2009

That was just my observation Fred - not a criticism. - ian-hill, Sep 21, 2009

Answer 3

--Hay que limpiar el baño, o barrer el suelo, cuáles -- haces Daniel?--Dijo Susana Esta frase es como "¿cuál --haces/harás/vas a hacer?"

"My boss told me that I have to work at six in the morning!" Said Jorge

--¡El jefe me dijo que trabaje a las cinco de la mañana!-- Dijo Jorge

"And you will do it?" Responded Julien --¿y lo harás?--Contesto Julien

Six = seis Heidita. To the dunce corner ;) - patch, Sep 17, 2009

Answer 4

Fred said:

I just wanted to take the time to try to express this concept to those who are learning English.

That's really nice of you to want to help.