Can both be correct?

Question

Hi

Could I ask which of these translations are correct and why?

Did you live alone last year

1) vivio usted solo el ano pasado

2) usted vivio solo el ano pasado

or

How long did you live at the beach

1) por cuanto tiempo vivieron ustedes en la playa

2) por cuanto tiempo ustedes vivieron en la playa

Many thanks for the help Stephen

Stephen, please use correct spelling and punctuation in Spanish. The special characters needed in written Spanish are at the bottom of the box where you enter your question before posting. - Jubilado, Jan 19, 2013

I would use both number ones. :) - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 19, 2013

Answer 1

Thanks Kiwi Girl, can I ask what is the difference?

I agree with Cae, although the other version isn't gramatically wrong it seems more natural to put the pronoun after the verb in questions, just like English. - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 20, 2013

Answer 2

Hi Cae,

Thanks for your help, this is what I thought.

I have bought an in car cd to listen to and sometimes the pronoun is before the verb and sometimes it is after which I failed to understand.

I thought there might be a reason for the altering of their position within the sentence but it seems not.

Regards Stephen

guao, very nice capitalization and punctuation jeje - Kiwi-Girl, Jan 20, 2013

Answer 3

Normally in the questions in Spanish the pronouns go after the verb that they modify, like in English.

Ex.: How are you? - ¿Cómo estás tú?

Both options seem correct but you should prefer No. 1.

Answer 4

Thanks for your comments Jubilado and will endeavour to do so.

Did you have any comments on the question?