Help me "Robertico" or anyone with "negar con la cabaza"
First let me say I truly thank you Robertcio for all the wonderful help you provide me.
OK; here again is my sentence for the word of the day
"He rechazado su oferta con un sonreí y un negué con la cabeza."
(I rejected her offer with a smile and a shake of my head.)
You made the correction: "He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y un cabeceo de desaprobación ."
- I like the "una sonrisa" but it is not in the (past tense) -- but I do not understand why the change to "cabeceo de desaprobación" = " nod of disapproval" Ok fine.
Now my question: Isn't "negar con la cabaza" and "asentir con la cabeza" common usage?
I used "negué con la cabeza" (past tense)
So ...... how far out in space am I again? Any help is welcomed.
16 Answers
If i understand your question correctly I would say that by saying "He rechazado" you have already set the tense for the entire sentence. Everything falls into the past tense.
You could probably say it like this: Rechacé la oferta de ella con una sonrisa y un negar con la cabeza.
You can use "negar con la cabeza" or "asentir con la cabeza." These are commonly used. Sometimes I see them shortened to "negar" or "asentir." The act of nodding or shaking the head is implied.
una sonrisa (a smile) is a noun, not a verb, so it has not tense.
negar con la cabeza and asentir con la cabeza are common when you want to make emphasis in the physical act of movement of the head to answer "no" or "yes". If that does not matter, then you can just say negar or asentir.
cabeceo is any movement of the head in any direction.
El futbolista cabeceó el balón y logró anotar un gol!.
The soccer player hit the ball with his head and he managed to score a goal!
Adding the adjective de desaprobación (of disapproval) then it implies that the head movement means "no".
Asentircon la cabeza rings a loud bell. Negar con la cabeza a little bell, but it could be used.
Negó con un movimiento de cabeza. Could be more specific.
That head movement is what doesn't sound right to me. that's why I suggested "y un cabeceo de desaprobación ." which would actually fit in both of your examples.
Sounds fine to me. It is another way to say the same thing. I am not sure about the tense of "sacudida" -- could/should it be "sacudir" or "sacudió" (I don't know.)
Daniel, I think you may be confusing nouns, participles and verbs. But, I am not exactly sure how to correct the confusion.
One cannot say things like "con una sacudió" or "con una sacudiré" in Spanish just as one cannot say things like "with a shook" or "with a will shake" in English.
In the English phrase, "with a shake," the word shake is solely a noun and not any form of the verb "to shake."
In the Spanish phrase "con una sacudida" the word "sacudida" is a noun...not a conjugation of sacudir. I don't think it is even the past participle even though it looks like one.
In Spanish, you might find an infinitive or a participle after a preposition, but never an actual conjugated verb.
I hope this helps.
"He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y negando con la cabeza."
Un gesto de desaprobación ....eso también
Over here negar y afirmar con la cabeza is common, yes.
If i understand your question correctly I would say that by saying "He rechazado" you have already set the tense for the entire sentence. Everything falls into the past tense.
Hi Robert...Would it have been OK to keep the original verbs if he were to have used the infinitive form of the verb:
"He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y por negar con la cabeza."
or would this require the gerund?
"He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y por negando con la cabeza."
But are: "negar con la cabaza" and "asentir con la cabeza" common usage?
Okay...building off something else I saw Daniel write...how about...
He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y un gesto de la cabeza
(I am wondering if it works as well as Heidita's suggestion of un gesto de la desaprobación)
How would "con una sonrisa y una sacudida de la cabeza" sound?
He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y negando con la cabeza
Doesn't that sentence use the gerund as a noun?
I enjoy watching process like this
Wow: what a great discussion we have had --- Thank you everyone!
Once again I have learned a lot --- by participating in the "Word of the Day".
"He rechazado su oferta con una sonrisa y un gesto de desaprobación ."
