¿Cómo está usted? with a twist. (Now with answers)

Question

Punctuation and intonation can change the meaning of a simple phrase. One of the very first things we learn in Spanish is:

¿Cómo está usted?

Now lets change it just a bit.

¿ Cómo está usted aquí?

Cómo... ¿está usted aquí?

See if you understand the meanings and how the punctuation and intonation change them. everyone will be voted and I will post the answers tomorrow.

This is directed more toward beginners and intermediates, If you are advanced or a native speaker please wait to answer.

Excelent Frank but since you already explained it to me I guess I'm out :)vote - Yeser007, May 25, 2011

sheesh! ya should have told me! i would not have given it away. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

What a shame, I understand the meanings XD - ale_rd, May 25, 2011

Ale Rd wait a while and post your answer. Thanks for your comment - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

Answer 1

One of the very first things [that] we learn in Spanish is:

¿Como está usted?

I hope not.

¿Cómo está usted?

Typo, drat fixed it Thanks , makes quite a difference. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

No estoy de acuerdo con tu sugerencia de empezar la palabra "spanish" con mayúscula. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

Well Q iI went off to check and I find you are correct in capitalizing "Spanish" when writing in english, when writing in Spanish you do not capitaze it. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

"English" :) - Sabor, May 26, 2011

the same would apply - pacofinkler, May 26, 2011

Answer 2

"Como está usted aquí, aprovecho para felicitarlo"

Since you are here, I will take advantage of the opportunity to congratulate you.

Thanks Lorenzo, you beat me to the answer ! - pacofinkler, May 26, 2011

Answer 3

deleted ,my error!

Answer 4

The second is more like what? you are here? It indicates surprise at the preson´s presence.

Yes you are correct - pacofinkler, May 26, 2011

Answer 5

the first one

¿ Cómo está usted aquí?

is How are you? formal.

and the 2nd one is

what.. are you here?

maybe..

Yes Dew you are correct for the second - pacofinkler, May 26, 2011

Answer 6

Here are the answers.

¿Cómo está usted? How are you?

¿ Cómo está usted aquí? How are you here?
(to determine whether a person being in a particular place is comfortable or adequate) It can also be as Danrivera indicates. "How are you doing right now? "

Cómo... ¿está usted aquí? How is it that you are here?, implies surprise.

Answer 7

Well done Paco. Now, what about this phrase:

"Como está usted aquí, aprovecho para felicitarlo"

The sense of the phrase "como esta usted aquí" changes again. ( And note that "como" does not have a tilde )

Can you guess?

Oh my! back to the books - pacofinkler, May 26, 2011

Answer 8

¿Cómo está usted?

How are you? (formal)

¿Cómo está usted aquí?

How are you doing over here?

Cómo... ¿está usted aquí?

Um... are you paying attention? (are you here - awake?)

Not sure about that last one.

Almost Nick! - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

I like your last one. - danrivera, May 26, 2011

Answer 9

I think I might have the hang of this. I would consider myself to be upper-intermediate, so I suppose that would make me eligible to answer.

¿Cómo está usted? = How are you, sir/ma'am?

¿Cómo está usted aquí? = Sir/Ma'am, how did you get here? or How are you doing right now? (as being said by someone like a waiter - This is a guess)

Cómo... ¿está usted aquí? = Like, are you here, sir/ma'am? (I am not as sure about the "Cómo" in this one)

Dan, your second answer can be understood that way, but there is yet another. - pacofinkler, May 25, 2011

Okay, thinking... - danrivera, May 25, 2011

Answer 10

Mmmmm.....Interesante.

Esperaré hasta mañana para hacer mis comentarios.