Antes de que + subjunctive verb?

Question

I'm translating:

"Before you noticed these problems, did you have any accidents, injuries or physical stress that may have injured your nervous system or spine?

I need help with these verbs. Do these sound ok or is there a better verb tense for these?

Antes de que usted notara estos problemas ¿había accidentes, lesiones, o estrés físico que podría lastimarse el sistema nervioso o la columna vertebral?

Muchas gracias!

Also, is habia a good verb to use there? Maybe hubo? Gracias! - savvyspanish, Jan 2, 2012

Answer 1

The first part sounds perfect, I'd change the last part a bit:

¿ha sufrido algún accidente, lesión, o estrés físico que pueda haberle afectado al sistema nervioso o a la columna vertebral?

The following words are not correct:

¿había accidentes, lesiones, o estrés físico que podría lastimarse ...

Había--> ha habido, hubo

podría --> podrían

lastimarse --> lastimar a, dañar... (the "se" is incorrect)

Wow, that sounds a lot better than what I first wrote. I'm glad I asked! - savvyspanish, Jan 2, 2012

Answer 2

Antes de que usted notara estos problemas ¿había accidentes, lesiones, o estrés físico que podría lastimarse el sistema nervioso o la columna vertebral?

I would say

Antes de notar estos problemas, ¿Tenía usted accidentes, lesiones, o estrés físico que podría haber lastimado el sistema nervioso o la columna vertebral?

(what you have sounds good to me for the most part but less is more and "tener" or "sufrir" are better for "have an accident" podría haber "could have")

Thanks jezzle! I thought of making a couple of those changes too. I agree. Less is more with these verbs. I made it too complicated. - savvyspanish, Jan 2, 2012

Answer 3

sí, antes de que siempre viene con subjuntivo

Answer 4

Hola! I asked my friend about this sentence over the phone and she said it is well put together and she said that it is fine and that it doesn't need any changes, she is Spanish so I always ask her if my sentences are correct before handing it in. Hope this helps! Adios

Muchas gracias! - savvyspanish, Jan 2, 2012