What is gramatically incorrect about this sentence?

Question

¿Qué tipo de apartamentos quieres ofrecer Sr. Sierra?

Bienvenido al foro, jasnitk. - annierats, May 18, 2012

Answer 1

You have to use "quiere" if you are treating Mr Sierra formally. The correct sentence would be ¿Qué tipo de apartamentos quiere ofrecer, Sr. Sierra?

Yes, with the comma! - annierats, May 18, 2012

I agree you would have to change "quieres" to "quiere" if you are addressing Mr. Sierra, because "quiere" is the formal Ud. form of querer. - kiselimh, May 19, 2012

Answer 2

You need either a comma or an '' a' in order to clarify. It's not clear if you're offering Sr Sierra apartements or if el Sr Sierra is the person who is going to be offering them.

¿Que típo de apartemento quiere ofrecir, Señor Sierra? What type of apartment have you got to offer, Sr S. ?

¿ Que típo de apartemento quiere ofrecir al Sr. Sierra? What type of apartment are you going to offer to Sr. S.?

I think that is correct, it is in usted form, for politeness.

Oh dear, a momentous effort considering the question has already been answered and is long forgotten. - annierats, May 18, 2012

lol but still worth a vote! :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 18, 2012

I like this Annie, more information to a question is never wasted; at least not on me. Thank you!:) - rac1, May 19, 2012

Gracias, amigas. Your're right a bout the le, I think. - annierats, May 19, 2012

Answer 3

I think the correct way to say the sentence would be: "¿Qué tipo de apartamentos quieres ofrecerle a Sr. Sierra?" In the sentence, you need to use the personal 'a' after ofrecer. Also, the indirect object pronoun 'le,' is needed which refers to "Sr. Sierra."

Answer 4

Also, I think "tipo" and "apartamentos" need to either both be singular, (tipo de apartamento) or both plural (tipos de apartamentos) in the sentence.

So did I kiselimph. - annierats, May 19, 2012

Answer 5

It is not complete? Are you, perhaps, asking someone what type of apartments someone else is offering to Sr. Sierra? ("¿Qué tipo de apartamentos que él quiere ...") That would be one of those cases when you would choose to use the personal pronouns to clarify who is "wanting to offer", yes? Or, are you, as Peinadin assumes, speaking directly to the person who wants to offer the apartments? Is the person receiving the offer Sr. Sierra? ("... a Sr. Sierra?") Or is Sr. Sierra the person who desires to make the offer (and also the one to whom you are speaking)? As it stands, it is confusing.

If you drop the "s" from quieres, and place a comma after "ofrecer" ... would that make it a sentence with a clear meaning? - Esteban3304, May 18, 2012

Frankly, t the English is not clear , to start with.. - annierats, May 19, 2012

Answer 6

I think the question does not make as much sense if you change the grammar in the sentence to make is seem as if you are addressing Sr. Sierra. If you are talking to Sr. Sierra, you'd say, "¿Qué tipo de apartamento quiere ofrecer, Sr. Sierra?" which translates to: "What kind of apartment do you want to offer, Sr. Sierra?"

It seems like the original sentence "¿Qué tipo de apartamentos quieres ofrecer Sr. Sierra?" is trying to say "What kind of apartments do you want to offer (to) Sr. Sierra?" The question sounds less awkward if it is phrased this way. To translate this then with the correct grammer is: "¿Qué tipo de apartamento quieres ofrecerle a Sr. Sierra?"

From the grammar section on this website under "articles," here are examples of why you would add the 'a' before Sr. Sierra.

"A": This is a very common preposition that can mean to, at, by, or for depending on the manner it is used. It can be used to:

-introduce a person as a direct object - “Personal a” (not translated directly) ¿Conoces a Isabela? (Do you know Isabela?) Veo a mi madre. (I see my mother.)

-introduce an indirect object (to, for) Le di el regalo a Celia. (I gave the gift to Celia.) Compré los tomates a Anita. (I bought the tomatoes for Anita.)

Very good Kiselimh!! - rac1, May 19, 2012

Answer 7

Quizás: ¿Qué tipo de apartamentos quieres/quiere ofrecer el Sr. Sierra?

Using the article when talking about Sr. Sra.