translation of gcse paragraph

Question

Hi all,

Last Spanish lesson my Spanish teacher could not be there and we got some work with a supply teacher to translate the following paragraph and provide a response. I am only a grade B student but to me it seems like there are some words missing:

Estoy adictado a las hamburguesas y la coca cola, las como todos los días y no puedo ni quiero para, sin embargo yo sé que está muy mal para mi salud y tengo hijos entonces necesito ayuda y pronto…

This is what I think it should be in English based on the current topic of healthy life styles, but I just don't think the text actually says that:

I an adicted to hamburgers y coco cola, I eat them every day and I can not, nor want to stop, however I know that it is very bad for my health and I have children so I need help and quickly. I don't know if this question strictly fits into the guidelines here but I really would like your help in translating this text. Thank you in advance

Welcome to SD - here are your first 10 points amiga - ian-hill, Dec 8, 2012

@ian-hill gracias mi amigo :) - meisandy, Dec 8, 2012

Answer 1

Here is my two cents:

Soy adicta a las hamburguesas y la coca cola, las como todos los días y no puedo ni quiero parar. Sin embargo, yo sé que son muy malas para mi salud y tengo hijos, entonces necesito ayuda y pronto.

---

I am addicted to hamburgers and Coca-Cola. I eat them every day and I cannot, nor do I want to stop; however, I know that they are very bad for my health and I have children, so I need help and quickly.

Thank you for your answer too! I just want to queston your use of the verb 'ser' though as I understood that 'ser' was used to describe professions and permanat characteristics etc. where as 'estar' is used in temporary situatons? Or am I incorrect? - meisandy, Dec 8, 2012

To be an addict is conjugated with ser and not estar because addiction never goes away. You can tame it or control it, but I think once an addict always an addict (even in recovery). - francobollo, Dec 8, 2012

Francobollo, sorry for the slow reply and thank you for your answer. That is a very interesting debate which I will not go into, but I think that in this case either would be accepted and not frowned upon because it depends upon beliefs. - meisandy, Dec 16, 2012

Answer 2

Hi Meisandy

If you did that without a translator you did very well indeed - I understood your Spanish very easily.

Just one thing ...I aM adDicted .........

As rogspax said wait for a native speaker.

Thank you for your comments. I have now tweaked it so that it translates a bit better, although I'm still not entirely sure about "estoy adictado" either. Maybe a native speak will be able to help soon. - meisandy, Dec 8, 2012

Answer 3

Quizás la palabra ´parar´ en lugar de ´para´. Check parar en the translation engine.

You could also use some periods and you can´t make it one big run-on sentence.

Otherwise, what you have looks pretty decent.

Hopefully some natives will chime in with better.

Thank you for your answer. I have changed it to 'parar' and now it seems to translate properly - meisandy, Dec 8, 2012

Answer 4

For future questions if you want the help of a Native Speaker you might begin your question with:

Hispanohablantes, ayúdenme:

I let you translate that.

Oh ok, thank you for that advice. To be honest, I wasn't aware that I needed one, but i'm sure that for future questions I will be able to determine if I need the help of a native speaker. - meisandy, Dec 8, 2012