Is it normal to be gone so long?

Question

Is it normal to be gone so long?

I think there is no "to be" that fits there in Spanish.

¿Es normal tardar tanto? o ¿Es normal tardar tanto tiempo? (but you don't need tiempo)

¿Es normal que tarde tanto?

¿Es normal que tarde tanto tiempo?

¿Es normal tardar tanto en manejar a su departamento?

¿Es normal que tarde tanto tiempo llegar a tu departamento?

Argentian friend, her boyfriend borrowed my car and is gone a long, long time to go his apartment. Is it normal to be gone so long?

Answer 1

You're right, there's no translation for 'to be' here, if you rephrase it in English like: "Is it normal for him to take so long?" there would be a more literal translation: "es normal que le tome tanto tiempo?".

All the examples you gave are correct but:

¿Es normal tardar tanto en manejar hasta su departamento?

¿Es normal que tarde tanto tiempo en llegar a tu departamento?

Cheers

Is he back yet? - Luzbonita, Oct 24, 2011

Yeah, he's back. Everything's fine. ;) Thanks for asking - jeezzle, Oct 24, 2011

Lol...good - geouk, Oct 25, 2011