Re: Today's Word and the Example

Question

Just when I think I'm making progress with my Spanish, I read something that confuses me. Case in point, the following example of today's word, El descanso:

Me ha tomado una semana de descanso. - I have taken a week off.

Why isn't it: He tomado una semana de descanso?

Where is that in the word of the day? - Yeser007, Jun 11, 2011

If you receive the Word of the Day in email or look at it on Facebook, it is the second example given for how to use the word in a sentence. - remcleaney, Jun 11, 2011

Answer 1

I think you are correct.

"Me ha tomado una semana de descanso" - He/She/Ud. has taken my week off. It would only make sense to me if someone else had elimated your vacation time, but then tomado is the wrong verb, it would be quitar. "Me ha quitado la semana de descanso" - They took away my week's vacation.

Otherwise, "Tomé una semana de descanso," or "He tomado una semana de descanso." is correct. Unless the writer meant to say "Me he tomado...." But there is no need for the reflexive me at the beginning.

Good answer! - 005faa61, Jun 11, 2011

Estoy de acuerdo con JulianChivi...gracias! - remcleaney, Jun 11, 2011

Answer 2

It could be a poor translation, but I wouldn't have questioned it since it makes sense to me as a reflexive verb.

Me ha tomado: [insert pronoun] has taken for me

so... that doesn't really make sense in English, but it's not a big jump from [work] has taken for me, a week of rest to I've taken a week off work

That said, this is just my guess. I've never used tomarse in this context.

Thanks mistermouse, it sound good to me. - Yeser007, Jun 11, 2011

Answer 3

I'm with you Rem... I can't wait for an answer to this one.