Why does the imperative statment "Do Not Pass" translate "No Pasar" in Spanish?

Question

I thought it would be translated in the imperative form and not simply using the infinitive. Someone help!

Answer 1

It is perfectly acceptable to use the infinitive in giving general commands

Really? It is fine in notices and boards, but you don't talk to people like that... unless you are a foreigner who can't conjugate verbs. The reason is that it is a short for:

No entrar = No [está permitido] entrar

It is not imperative, but a prohibition written in impersonal style, and omitting the crucial "está permitido" (or any other implicit phrase)

After all, we do the same in English

The comparison is not valid. "Don't touch" is the imperative in English, and it is normally used when talking, while in Spanish is grammatically unacceptable.

Lazarus, thank you for your correction but I can see that I was not specific enough in what I said ...I only meant for notice boards not for general conversation lol - FELIZ77, May 10, 2011

I can also see that I was wrong in making comparisons here - FELIZ77, May 10, 2011

Answer 2

We have a similar form in English, where we use the gerund form with no subject: No touching, no running, no smoking, etc. This is equivalent to the Spanish: No tocar, no correr, no fumar.

Often, however, because that doesn't feel as elegant so we use a more forceful or pointed directive in English: Don't touch, don't run, don't smoke. You can do the same in Spanish, but it's not common the way it is in English.

Answer 3

:) - 00a4c226, May 10, 2011

Answer 4

No pasar is correct. Like No tocar=Don't touch No moverse=Don't move...

The infinitive is often employed in commands and instructions. - 0074b507, May 10, 2011

That's correct! - 00a4c226, May 10, 2011

Answer 5

It is perfectly acceptable to use the infinitive in giving general commands on notice boards which give warnings but I do not mean that that to apply to general conversation

I hope this helps

That is not the same Feliz. - No pasar = do not to pass, (word for word) The English drops the infinitive "to" - ian-hill, May 10, 2011

Those are not infinitive forms. They are conjugated with an understood "you". Thus the OP's question. - hyrumt, May 10, 2011

for all persons in all situations - much easier. :) - ian-hill, May 10, 2011

Thank you, Ian :) - FELIZ77, May 10, 2011