Usted no está para vivir sola.
Can this phrase also be translated as: Usted no puede vivir sola. which one would be more conversationally correct to say?
2 Answers
HI web, the sentence is actually correct.
And yes, it would mean you shouldn't live alone, or even you can't live alone.
No estar para = you can't, you are unable to, you shouldn't....can be used in many contexts:
No estoy para conducir. I can't drive, because I feel sick, I have been drinking, I feel dizzy, I am sleepy....
NO estoy para levantar a mi marido de la cama. I can't lift my husband because I am too weak, he is too heavy, I have a broken arm....
Usted no está para vivir sola, provided it makes any sense at all, would mean something like Living alone isn't what you're for.
Usted no puede vivir sola would mean something like You can't live alone (having more the flavor of "You don't have the ability to live alone").
If you intend to say, You shouldn't live alone, then I recommend No debería vivir solo or No es bueno que viva solo.
By the way, I think solo is acting as an adverb modifying vivir in these sentences and should probably just be solo (whether the person living alone is male or female). I could be wrong about that, though.
Also, it rather sounds like you have a close relationship with this person. Remember that the usted form is mostly used for people you would address in English with sir or ma'am. I'm not saying you should use tú with this person...only that it looks like it you probably should.
So, using the tú form, I would probably say, "No es bueno que vivas solo" or "No deberías vivir solo."
