English translation of two sentences using "abrasar".

Question

Are the following English sentences one way of translating the given Spanish sentences?

Las llamas abrasaban al bosque.
Q1: The flames burned the forest.

El sol me abrasaba.
Q2: The sun burned me.

Muchas gracias.

Answer 1

Is the use of the preterit because #Q1 the action of the flames burning the forest is a completed action even though we don't know when the event occurred?

Is so, it's the same reasoning for #Q2. The sun burned me is a completed action, even though we don't know when it happened?

Both sentences are in imperfect - not preterit. These are probably just sentences from a textbook because in the real world to say something like this would leave the listener wondering "when what else happened?" So KiwiGirl is right; they should be in preterit.

We do not need to know the time frame of the event to use preterit, ie: Oí algo acerca de un soldado en Londres ¿qué pasó? / Lo mataron en plena calle unos desgraciados terroristas.

Gracias, Julian! "We do not need to know the time frame" for the preterit! I'll get the sense of this sometime! - bandit51jd, May 31, 2013

thanx JC :) - Kiwi-Girl, May 31, 2013

Answer 2

Yes that's what abrasar means - to burn, scorch etc I haven't heard it used here in Nicaragua as quemar is much more common, I guess that helps avoid any confusion with abrazar which sounds the same. Just as a side point, without context it's hard to say whether the sentences should us the imp or the pret, but as they are, they kind of sound like they should be preterite to me.

Can it also mean "to sear"? - bandit51jd, May 30, 2013

Abrasar = burn to embers (ember = brasa(s)) - chileno, May 31, 2013

Answer 3

I see no differences between the meanings is each language; so yes, that's a way to translate those sentences.

I must say "abrasar" is not nearly as common as "quemar". - diagonx, May 30, 2013

Answer 4

Bandit:

Las llamas abrasaban al bosque. Q1: The flames burned the forest.

Las llaman abrasaron el bosque.

El sol me abrasaba. Q2: The sun burned me.

The sun was burning me

or

The sun burned me while....

See?

I think you are indicating the preterit translation in English can be 1) was burning me or 2) burned me while? And that a Spanish native would have completed the while part? - bandit51jd, May 31, 2013

Not that a Spanish native, I would outling how you can use it, so you get it straight in your head. :) - chileno, May 31, 2013

Answer 5

@ Kiwi or anyone

Is the use of the preterit because #Q1 the action of the flames burning the forest is a completed action even though we don't know when the event occurred?

Is so, it's the same reasoning for #Q2. The sun burned me is a completed action, even though we don't know when it happened?

Grrrr, I'm still missing this, but I'll keep trying!

Good information about "quemar" being more common. Muchas gracias, Kiwi y Diagonx.