How would you say "he did not assign her"

Question

I'm trying to make a sentence that says "He did not assign her a new roommate" How would that be phrased and what verb should I use for assign? "él no le designa a ella una nueva compañera de cuarto"?

Is the verb designar the correct verb to use, or should a different one be used - perhaps destinar?

Answer 1

I'm not a native, either, but your sentence looks fine to me, with two exceptions:

1. designa should be designó (to make it past tense) and

2. under most circumstances you would normally write, "No le designó una nueva compañera de cuarto." (leaving out él and a ella).

When written as "él no le designó a ella una nueva compañera de cuarto" it comes across like "He didn't assign her a new roommate." There's this extra emphasis on he and her, which I'm not sure you intend. However, if you think it could be unclear whom you're talking about, you can include them as occasionally they are left in for clarity.

Also, if it's clear that we're discussing roommates, you can probably just say "nueva comañera" and leave off the de cuarto.

I am NOT a native, however.

I missed that verb conjugation. Thanks for picking it up! ;) - 0066c384, Feb 16, 2011

Since we have Él, Ella, and and new roomate here, I think "a ella" is a good inclusion. I have never heard "Comañera." Is this slang? - 005faa61, Feb 16, 2011

ComPañero/a (companion, partner, things like that). - webdunce, Feb 16, 2011

Answer 2

I'm a rookie here, but your sentence looks good to me.

I see you are having a problem with the capital E with the tilde. I have the same problem. I can't get the alt codes to work correctly.

You might want to wait on a native speaker or more advanced member, but welcome to the forum!