Sentence check - how did I do? :)

Question

I was reading the newspaper yesterday when a bird flew in the window.

Estaba leyendo el periódico ayer cuando un pájaro voló en la ventana.

I'm not sure whether to use the preterite or imperfect here. I'm talking about a certain time period, but I also mention something being interrupted. Is what I have correct?

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Don't tell me the ending of the movie. I will watch it myself later.

No me digas el desenlace de la película. Me la miraré más tarde.

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We are going to leave the house tomorrow morning at 6.

Vamos a salir la casa mañana por la mañana a las seis.

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I will walk the dog, but you have to feed him.

Yo pasearé al perro, pero tú tienes que dar de comerlo.

I used subject pronouns for emphasis.

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Be polite and invite your grandmother, aunts, and nieces to the party.

Sea amable y inviteles a sus abuela, tías, y sobrinas a la fiesta.

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The movie is fun to watch.

La película es divertida de mirar.

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I had some trouble with these sentences.

I really appreciate all your help and corrections.

Muchas gracias!!

Sonrisa, I really enjoyed trying to translate these sentences myself and then checking with Lazarus to see the correct way! They were a little tricky! Thanks for sharing, it was really helpful for me. - MLucie, Aug 7, 2011

De nada, MLucie! I'm glad you enjoyed them! :-) They were tricky, but I got some excellent help and corrections! - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011

Answer 1

I'm not sure whether to use the preterite or imperfect here. I'm talking about a certain time period, but I also mention something being interrupted. Is what I have correct?

It would say "entró volando por la ventana", but the tenses are OK.

No me digas el desenlace de la película. Me la miraré más tarde.

That "me" is not like "myself" in English. It implies that you are going to thoroughly watch the entire movie. That "me" implies completion.

Vamos a salir la casa mañana por la mañana a las seis.

"Leave" is transitive in English, but in Spanish is not, so you need "de/desde": "...salir de casa por..."

Yo pasearé al perro, pero tú tienes que dar de comerlo.

It must be "darle de comer". The "tú" you've used for contranst ("I do... while you do..."), since there are two participants, so it can't be omitted.

Sea amable y inviteles a sus abuela, tías, y sobrinas a la fiesta.

"A sus abuelas..." is the direct object, so you can't (in theory) say "les" as well: "... e invite a sus abuelas...". The whole thing can be shortened to "Sea amable e invítelas.", but then you can't say "a sus abuelas..."

La película es divertida de mirar.

That won't work. If you really have to say "mirar", then: "Es divertido mirar la película".

Thank you very much! I understand my mistakes now. - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011

Thank you for the corrections. I, too, understand a little better now! - MLucie, Aug 7, 2011

Answer 2

I could be wrong, but since you only mention one grandmother I don't think you can start with "sus abuela". I believe you have to distribute the "su(s)".

"...e invite a su abuela, sus tías y sus sobrinas..."

or perhaps

"... su abuela y sus tías y sobrinas ..."

Good point. That's a typical mistake. Although, of course, some people still have two grandmothers. - lazarus1907, Aug 7, 2011

Ok, that makes sense!! What if I had "abuelas"? "Sus abuelas, tías y sobrinas" would be correct, right? - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011

Yes, Sonrisa, I believe that is correct. - gintar77, Aug 7, 2011

Ok, just checking :) Thanks - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011

Answer 3

delete, much better answer given.

Not a native, but I think:

...voló por la ventana.

...Vamos a salir de la casa...

...a sus abuelas, a sus tías y a sus sobrinas a la fiesta.

Wait for verification.

Thank you very much - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011

Answer 4

(oración-perro) darle de comer. Se amable , invita a tu abuela.

Thank you, Silvia! - SonrisaDelSol, Aug 7, 2011