Would it be too much to ask for some context when asking questions?

Question

.Would it be too much ask people to provide some context when asking questions?

I so often come across questions being asked by newcomers and beginners to Spanish and these are good questions but I am often left frustrated because, in addition to being asked to help them understand some aspect of Spanish grammar or vocabulary we are expected to read people's minds!

Please would you all provide us with some context so that we can know how you intend to use your word/phrase. The context can make all the difference in deciding which word to use or how to phrase a sentence. It really can....... believe me!

For example you might be tempted to ask how do you say ''get'' in Spanish?

The word get can be translated in more than 10 different ways and this is quite apart from the phrasal verbs get around, get lost, get ahead, get into trouble etc...:

For example;

get = bring Use the verb: traer

get = obtain. Use the verb: obtener

get = receive. Use the verb: recibir

get = reach. Use the verb: alcanzar

get = understand. Use the verb: entender

get = prepare breakfast Use preparar o hacer

get = achieve/win (prize/grade) Use conseguir

get = find ex You don't get elephants in America = En America no hay elefantes o No hay elefantes en America.

As you can see the variations and possibilities are immense and we haven't even explored the phrasal verbs yet!.

What inspired me to write this now is that I have just read another thread asking people how to say ''I feel like I am burning '' and Beatrice Cod had said in her response that some context would be helpful.

I hope peeople read this and realize that we can help you much better if you help us by giving us at least one sentence indicating how you intend to use your word/phrase If you do not tell us we can not possibly know as this is a site for learning Spanish not telepathy ! lol Remember,please use your context lenses !

Thank you for reading this

Quite clever mate it should "get " off the ground OK. - ray76, Sep 15, 2011

lol@Ray I think I get what you mean hahaha:) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

Good luck. This has only been mentioned 1 or 2 thousand times before. - 0074b507, Sep 15, 2011

"context lenses" cute! I changed your category. - --Mariana--, Sep 15, 2011

I fixed a couple of minor typos. Good message - I hope it helps. - pesta, Sep 15, 2011

Thanks Marianne for changing the category :) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

Great advice. I think sometimes people who are new to foreign languages sometimes forget that word-for-word translations are not always appropriate. - Peggy_Hill, Sep 15, 2011

Thank you Pesta and Peggy:) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

hehe...loved the bit about "context lenses." - Izanoni1, Sep 20, 2011

Answer 1

Feliz, I agree 100%!

Thank You Marianne Let us hope that people will sit up and take notice lol :) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

¡Yo también! - territurtle, Sep 20, 2011

Answer 2

Kudos for your request, but sadly, this too shall fall by the wayside...not to take anything away from our latest 50k-er, but in my short "tenure" here, I have witnessed many a brilliant suggestion only to be relegated to the annals of SD... something short of oblivion unless someone resurrects the valuable post via research or serendipity... no obstante, I applaud you, Feliz!

Answer 3

For those reading Ray's wonderful comments:

crossy outy thingy = <s> What you want to cross out </s>

Happy formating

Answer 4

Trae mi un asiento por favor

¿Podría tráeme una silla, por favor?

Get ( bring ) me a seat please.

Could you get me a seat please?

Ray I think you would say Could you bring me a chair, please? = ¿Podría(s) traerme una silla, por favor? - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

I think the correct imperative here is Tráeme or Tráemelo. - pesta, Sep 15, 2011

Feliz is correct, too. He made a polite statement rather than a direction command. - --Mariana--, Sep 15, 2011

Pesta Yes you are correct too :) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

Thanks guys , I only just managed the crossy outy thingy. - ray76, Sep 15, 2011

Much better Ray but you still need the Question marks: ¿ and ? :) - FELIZ77, Sep 15, 2011

Sorry mate , I had forgotten to get back to it. I have had quite a bit on my plate these past two months. - ray76, Sep 20, 2011

To you both , Thank you ! - ray76, Sep 20, 2011