Question from study book

Question

This is from page 64 of Madrigals Magic Key...

One line says "Es Roberto un diablo?" which obviously means is Robert a devil..ok I get that. Now two lines down it says:

"Es un angel Roberto?"

Why does it not say "Es Roberto un angel?"

Thanks much for the help,

Answer 1

The way Michel Thomas explains it is like this:

If you want to ask, "Where does Robert work?", you could ask:

¿Dónde trabaja Roberto? In English, to explain the difference in structure, he will say, "Where does he work? I mean Robert".

¿Dónde trabaja tu hijo? Where does he work? I mean your son.

So:

¿Es Roberto un diablo? Is Robert a devil?

¿Es un ángel Roberto? Is he an angel? I mean Robert.

Or, you could say, ¿Es Roberto un ángel? Is Robert an angel?

It's Michel Thomas. I love the way he explains things! First time I understood the why of e changing it ie etc. - elainepnj, Aug 4, 2011

Oops! - Tosh, Aug 4, 2011

Answer 2

"Es un angel Roberto?"

Why does it not say "Es Roberto un angel?"

As you've been told, Spanish is much more flexible than English, but this flexibility comes with lots of rules. Let's shuffle the parts of the sentence:

¿Es un ángel Roberto?

¿Es Roberto un ángel?

¿Roberto es un ángel?

¿Roberto un ángel es? [Too "Yoda" to be good)]

¿Un ángel Roberto es? [Too "Yoda" to be good)]

¿Un ángel es Roberto? [a bit weird]

Spanish allows all these combinations, but while the first three seem to flow logically, the last three ones remind me of Yoda, at best.

In terms of presentation of information, you are quite right when you suggest "¿Es Roberto un angel?", but that doesn't mean that it is the only way to express it, because many languages (e.g. Japanese) would prefer the fourth option, which is Yoda-like in Spanish and English.

There is no why. There are only conventions.

Ok yes I see this. Although for arguments sake I think some of the Yoda ones change the meaning a bit. But like I said I am an absolute amateur and can only use my limited logic! :) - steric, Aug 4, 2011

There is no try. There is only do. ;) - jeezzle, Aug 4, 2011

Answer 3

It's a little hard to explain, but to me ¿Es Roberto un ángel? (fíjate en el acento sobre la "a") would be just asking Is Robert an angel?, while ¿Es un ángel Roberto? would give the sense of : Is Robert an angel? Oh my god I can't believe it!

This is closer to how I feel. Thanks much. - steric, Aug 4, 2011

Answer 4

ok thankyou but could you please explain. I am a newbie so what are we stressing in each one? Why would one be chosen and then another two lines away? Thanks for the time, much appreciated,

Answer 5

Thank you but I still don't understand. I mean how is one stressing what more than the other... Further expo would be great.

Have a good one,

MY apologies I did not mean to leave TWO comments like this. I didn't think the first one went thorugh. Haha. - steric, Aug 4, 2011

Answer 6

Your sentences are both similar. Spanish is flexible, you could say it either way depending on what you want to stress.