De pronto toca ir al supermercado.

Question

Does the above sentence make sense to you?

Answer 1

Yes but it's missing a pronoun, ie:

De pronto me toca ir al supermercado.

or

Entre de poco me toca ir al supermercado.

Soon it will be time for me to go to the supermarket.

So, in this context, exactly what does 'me toca' mean to you (you've not suggested that it is your turn). And, where is your Spanish from again? - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

"me toca" ("It's time for me to.......") I have not suggested "my turn," which would be "Me toca a mí ir ...." Mexico City - 005faa61, Jan 4, 2011

In Colombia "me toca" (minus the a mi, which would indicate my turn) is a more colloquial way of saying "I have to.." Sort of another way of saying Tengo que... - DonK, Jan 4, 2011

Eeeeenteresting. I've always found 'me toca a mi' tautological, and say me toca to mean my turn. In the above context 'toca' means 'hay que', 'me toca' would mean 'tengo que', de pronto = talvez. This is Colombiañol :-) - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 2

It´s ok in my opinion. In Argentina, we use the form: "A veces toca ir al supermercado" "A veces toca trabajar" "Cada tanto hay que trabajar"... it´s an expression, and may contain a little complain about the fact you are saying... Maybe you don´t like to go to the supermarket, but from time to time, "toca"

From what I can tell from observing usage, in Colombia it is exactly the same as tener que, there doesn't seem to be anything negative about using tocar. - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

"Toca" in this context has no relation with the verb to touch... but with "luck" (like in a raffle) - veroz, Jan 4, 2011

But is a really differet expression "De pronto toca..." than "De pronto me toca..." they are different - veroz, Jan 4, 2011

Hi Veroz, can you explain the difference to you please? It's the same in Colombian Spanish. Only 'me toca' means 'I have to' as in tengo que, and 'toca' is impersonal as in hay que. - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

That is the difference I see, and to me, the impersonal form implies a little complain... just that. The same than in Colombia =) - veroz, Jan 4, 2011

I guess the tone and facial expression would indicate complaining, the same as in English. I'll watch people's faces and pay more attention to tone and see what I come up with :-) - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Oh, you say 'the same AS in Colombia'. - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Thank you Afo! As you see, I still have a lot to lern =) - veroz, Jan 4, 2011

As do we all, I'm sure :-) - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 3

I agree with Veroz, it's ok to me too.It's an impersonal sentence, I don't miss any pronoun in it.

Suddenly, you have to go to the supermarket.

:-) This is how they speak here. De pronto means talvez. Toca would mean 'hay que' which would be purposefully impersonal. 'Someone has to go to the supermarket' instead of 'te toca' which would mean 'you have to go...' - afowen, Jan 4, 2011

Answer 4

My (Mexican) friend said to me (yesterday) ' ay, me toca hacer la limpieza' which I took to me she 'had' to clean.....

You took it right. "Me toca" means "she have to". Without the "me" it´s an impersonal sentence - veroz, Jan 4, 2011