"Do they exist?"

Question

I want to ask, "Do they exist?" The translator says,"¿Existen?" but I don't think that's right

Answer 1

Hmm. That looks right to me. From the verb existir = to exist.

Answer 2

Do you find English auxiliary verbs as bewildering as I think they must be to non-native speakers? Well, not you personally, but in general? - KevinB

My studenst certainly do Kevin, they have a really hard time using them and understanding that a word that means nothing should be used in a sentence. My method sticks though...and as matter of fact, lazarus asked me once how I teach that and he thought it was a good method and had almost no exceptions.

One can always find some kind of exception in English

Answer 3

I want to ask, "Do they exist?" The translator says,"¿Existen?" but I don't think that's right

And why exactly do you think it is not right? It is perfect. "Do" as an auxiliary is exclusive of the English language, and personal pronouns are only used in Spanish for contrasts.

Do you find English auxiliary verbs as bewildering as I think they must be to non-native speakers? Well, not you personally, but in general? - KevinB, Nov 30, 2010

The first word in that sentence was an auxiliary verb lol - jizzy2k, Nov 30, 2010

@Kevin: I did... when I was a beginner. I've been using them for too long now. As I tell people, you use "do" where we use "¿" in writing. - lazarus1907, Nov 30, 2010