Catch on fire

Question

How would you translate into Spanish the action of something catching fire, or catching on fire. For example, "If he wasn't careful while lighting the candle, his coat could have caught on fire."

Answer 1

"Si no hubiese tenido cuidado al encender la vela,podría haber prendido su chaqueta." Es más común decir:"enciende una vela" que "prende"una vela. "Prender " se usa más con un sentido de "agarrar o "asir": El rosal que planté el año pasado esta prendido.(agarrado a la tierra) Los romanos prendieron a San Pablo(=capturaron o detuvieron) Tengo el tema 16 prendido con alfileres (=estudiado deprisa y sin profundidad)

Ejemplos de encender: Juan encendió la luz (eléctrica). Juan encendió la vela. La revolución rusa prendió de forma inmediata entre las masas obreras. El pirómano prendió fuego al bosque(=incendió el bosque) I hope help you.

Mi madre mi dijo que prender de menudo significa "start" como empezar, como con un coche. - jeezzle, Oct 13, 2010

Bienviendos lukaaxx - BellaMargarita, Oct 15, 2010

Answer 2

"Si no hubiese(=hubiera) tenido cuidado al encender la vela,podría haber prendido su chaqueta."

La chaqueta podria haberse prendido sí él no hubiera tenido cuidado al encender la vela. I hope help you.

Sí, esto ayuda mucho. ¡Gracias! - Stardust2212, Oct 13, 2010

Answer 3

Hello. To catch fire is prender fuego. For this sentence, I'd say, "Si no hubiera tenido cuidado, podría haberle prendido fuego a su chaqueta."

You don't think "Si no hubiera tenido cuidado" is better? - jeezzle, Oct 13, 2010

So it would be better to make the ver reflexive right? Thanks! - Stardust2212, Oct 13, 2010

Oh. Yes, definitely 'hubiera'. Not thinking today. Thanks. - MacFadden, Oct 13, 2010

Well, I wasn't thinking of it as reflexive so much as chaqueta is just the indirect object; he's lighting the jacket on fire, it's the recipient of the action. - MacFadden, Oct 13, 2010

No reflexive here, le = la chaqueta. Reflexive = se prenda. - jeezzle, Oct 13, 2010

But, yes, I would use "haberle" and "a". There is a certain hostility to the term "reflexive verb" around these parts, actually. We tend not to use the "R word". At least, in front of Lazarus. ;) - MacFadden, Oct 13, 2010

Agreed, if you can't literally think of the verb reflecting back on itself, then it's not reflexive although it could be pronomial but this isn't a pronomial use either, the le is connecting the objects. - jeezzle, Oct 13, 2010

Answer 4

Good job lukaxx

Answer 5

I wouldn't have asked if I hadn't checked the translator first, which of course I did. I realize I could use the verb "prender", but I wasn't completely sure and I was hoping for a native to verify it for me and also translate the sentence. Thanks anyways.

Answer 6

Hello and welcome to the forum. The site has a translator that can sometimes help you in translating words and phrases from English to Spanish or vice versa. That should be the first place you go and then if you still have issues come to the forum and post what you have and someone will definitely help you. There's not a direct word for word translation, but "prender" would be the verb you would use in the correct conjugation and "fuego" is fire. Hope that helps.

Ciao!!

Stardust looks to have been on the forums about as much as you. ;) Just in a welcoming mood? - MacFadden, Oct 13, 2010