How can you tell when you need a insert a preposition vs. when the verb connotes it for you?
The question came up to translate:
- Ella quiere algo para comer. =She want's something to eat.
Where I was confused at was why does simply removing "para" (meaning for or to):
- Ella quiere algo comer. =She want's to eat something.
If verbs are in the infinitive form they already implies the word "to" in it {i.e., to (insert verb)} so why the need to add "para" also? I am assuming this is a grammar failure on my part and the choice of wording can be a matter of emphasis rather than something that might come across in a translation.
(Thank you for your help elucidating this inquiry in advance.)
1 Answer
I am not that good with grammer but: "Ella quiere algo comer." just does not look or sound right. "Ella quiere comer algo." This looks better to me. It could just could be my inexperience.
Va a comer. You go to to eat. Go eat.
Voy a ir a comprar. I go to to go to to buy. I'm going to go shopping.
Yes it takes some getting use to. But also translating word for word does not work all of the time.
