How could a mouse ever help a lion?
How do you translate "ever" in this sentence? Should it just disappear in the translation?
How could a mouse ever help a lion?
¿Cómo podría un ratón ayudarle a un león alguna vez?
"Alguna vez" sounds odd to me.
¿Cómo podría un ratón ayudarle a un león nunca?
"Nunca" sounds even odder. :(
Is either one of them correct?
Thanks.
21 Answers
How could a mouse ever help a lion?
When the lion is computer-literate.
"¿Cómo podría un ratón jamás ayudar a un león?"
Recuerdo mi leccion sobre "ever" para indagar sobre la frecuencia con que se realiza alguna accion y en la respuesta se usa never, rarely, frequently, usually, always... Además recuerdo que se omitía su traducción.
Bueno en este caso, de la conocida historia infantil, hay que traducir la idea:
¿Podría acaso un insignificante ratón ayudar al Rey de la Selva?
Si intentan seguir buscando una traducción literal nunca va a quedar bien... mi opinión.
In all fairness, I just thought that I should point something out. According to the RAE definition....
First of all, here's is what the RAE has to say about "jamás":
jamás. (Del lat. iam magis, ya más). 1. adv. t. nunca. 2. adv. t. ant. siempre. 3. adv. t. ant. Alguna vez.
...both siempre and alguna vez are listed as antiquated usages (ant = anticuado). I also checked in my 30 year old copy of Pequeño Larousse ilustrado and neither siempre nor alguna vez is listed under the entry for jamás. Of course anticuado is not the same thing as disusado, but it could explain why it might sound strange to another Hispanohablante.
It reminds me of when I first learned that the expression haber de + infinitivo could be used to express an obligation, and beaming with this knowledge, I rushed to try it out only to have my feeling of excitement quickly and thoroughly dashed when I was quite unceremoniously told (corrected) by several people that nobody ever (nunca jamás) talks like that anymore, and it sounds stuffy, stiff, etc. (i.e. the expression has become antiquated and is more often than not replaced by the tener que + infinitivo expression) Since that time, I have found many examples of the haber de expression in various written formats; however, ever since being reprimanded for sounding odd, I have refrained from employing this particular expression in conversation.
I wonder if a similar situation is occurring here with the use of the word jamás in this way. Of course, this is all just conjecture on my part (and all based upon its listing as antiquated by the RAE), and in such matters, I will of course defer to the true experts to sort it out, such as yourself, Benz and the rest of the hispanohablantes here who actually have an ear for such things. 
I think the posts from Izanoni, Heidita, Nila, Geof, and the moral support from Hecho en Mexico go a fair way into explaining why "¿Cómo podría un ratón jamás ayudar a un león?" is correct.
Under other circumstances, I might agree with Charlius and Morbo that it may be more comfortable (and even appropriate) to try and find an alternative construction that offers a similar meaning.
In this particular case, however, Alba made it very clear that she wants to use the expression: "How could a mouse ever help a lion?"
Even in English, it is a bit of an odd construction, although not uncommon.
And here comes one of those decisions that translators need to make every now and then: Literal translation, liberal interpretation, or faithful translation?
In this case, whether we feel comfortable with it or not, there happens to be an exact, faithful translation to the expression that Alba used. It is "¿Cómo podría un ratón jamás ayudar a un león?" It means exactly the same thing that Alba wrote, and there is sufficient grammatical and usage evidence to support that claim. The original sentences does not really mean that we should explore the ways in which a mouse may be able to assist a lion. No. It is a statement of skepticism. It expresses the most serious doubts and reservations as to the capacity of a measly, insignificant little rodent to be able to do anything useful at all for the mighty lion. It dismisses the mouse altogether. So we use "jamás", which in this case serves the purpose precisely. Ain't no way lil' buckteeth there's gonna be able to help Mr. Lion! The gall of the lil' fellah!
Note that what I wrote is in fact not a "literal translation". A literal translation would be: " ¿Cómo podría un ratón alguna vez ayudar a un león?". But there are two problems with that option: First of all, it is awkward, and second, it just doesn't convey the same exact meaning.
As for "liberal interpretations"; a number have already been offered. Same problem: they fail to convey the exact meaning of the original expression, at least in a simple, compact construction.
So, after thinking about it for a while, I chose to put on my Faithful Translator hat, and went for the one construction that exactly replicates the meaning and intention of the original sentence in the most economic and elegant form.
This time around, I'm digging my heels, and sticking to my guns:
The best and most faithful translation for Alba's sentence is:
"¿Cómo podría un ratón jamás ayudar a un león?"
For me, one "liberal" alternative would be:
"¿Cómo pretendería jamás un ratón ayudar a un león?"
Alba, I think that I would go with "alguna vez.
Well, I think in this case, we should not be trying to find an exact translation for each word and instead, try and convey the spirit of the entire sentence.
Why not: En qué circunstancia podría un ratón ayudarle a un león?
I think this is exactly what we´re trying to say in english.
-Charlius-
Hi Gekk! but it's not correct, with all my respect
My dear friend Benz: when I'm wrong, I'm wrong, and I have no compunctions admitting it.
This time, however, I am not wrong. Not only do native speakers use jamás in this sense, they do it frequently, and it is widely used in literature as well.
As odd as it sounds, "jamás" can, and is, used to mean "ever".
First of all, here's is what the RAE has to say about "jamás":
jamás. (Del lat. iam magis, ya más). 1. adv. t. nunca. 2. adv. t. ant. siempre. 3. adv. t. ant. Alguna vez.
I will now provide a few examples I found quickly on the net:
From education.yahoo.com:
ja·más
adv.
- never jamás lo creeré I'll never believe it
- ever el más grande que jamás haya visto the biggest that I have ever seen
From Wikipedia:
para siempre jamás
* for ever and ever
From Amazon.com:
El Hombre Mas Rico Que Jamas Existio/ The Richest Man Who Ever Lived
From [alibris.com][4]
El Sandwich Mas Grande, Jamas (The Biggest Sandwich Ever)
From torretz.com
La historia mas grande jamas contada
From businesspanish.com:
JAMÁS/ Ever
Jamás is used as a superlative and is equivalent to ever.
EXAMPLE: * Este projecto es el más intenso que jamás he empredido./ This projectis the most intense that I have ever undertaken.
Don't take my word for it, of course! Have a look for yourself, I'm sure you'll find loads more examples... or find a refutation and then please let me know! 
[4]: http://www.alibris.com/search/books/qwork/1975871/used/El Sandwich Mas Grande, Jamas
Hola,
Maybe change the word a little...
¿Cómo podría el ratón, alguna vez, ayudarle a un león?
Alguna vez.....I think
This has given me another idea:
Ever:
1. (as intensifier): when will you ~ learn?¿cuándo vas a aprender?;
¡Pero cuándo vas a aprender!!!
From WordReference:
Ever:
- (as intensifier): when will you ~ learn? ¿cuándo vas a aprender?;
Another use of "ever"... Would you translate "ever" as "jamás"?
Then, it would be: ¿cómo podría jamás ayudar un ratón a un león?.
Ok, that makes, 3 - 1
How could a mouse ever help a lion?
Charlie said:
Why not: En qué circunstancia podría un ratón ayudarle a un león?
I think this is exactly what we´re trying to say in english.
I don¡t agree with this, I think what we read between the lines is this, exactly what Nila said:
With that question you are almost denying the fact that it can be possible. Then, it would be: ¿cómo podría jamás ayudar un ratón a un león?.
Hi Gekk! but it's not correct, with all my respect
Siempre un placer verte amiga (a thread was opened the other day asking for you, I sent the owner a Pm telling him that you are with us but very busy
)
Pero a lo que iba. pues no estoy de acuerdo. En España se diría justo así.
Yo lo considero también correcto. Vamos a votar:
tres nativos: 2 - 1
A ver lo que dice Morbo, jeje, le llamaré al hilo. Y NIla claro!!
I don't see the problem.
Do you ever get up at seven in the morning?
(¿Te levantas alguna vez a las siete por la mañana?)
They are asking if you do something that perphaps it is frequent or not.
In your sentence, however, it is clear that it cannot be very frequent that a mouse can help a lion in case that it can be possible for any odd circumstance.
How could a mouse ever help a lion?.
¿Cómo podría un ratón ayudar a un león (alguna vez)?. It sounds odd. It can't be very frequent. Then, I suppose it sounds better "jamás". With that question you are almost denying the fact that it can be possible. Then, it would be: ¿cómo podría jamás ayudar un ratón a un león?.
And also, what you said at the first, Alba. It would be very useful if you ignore "ever" and you say: ¿cómo podría un ratón ayudar a un león?. With that, all your problems will have dissapeared.
