Is something missing

Question

I am reading this sentence,

"Empecé a leer unos artículos que encontré en Internet y en los libros de derecho que me facilité los abogados."

I must be missing something because I think the sentence says,

"I started to read articles that I found on the Internet and in books of law that were supplied to me by the lawyers."

Something seems to be missing from the Spanish sentence. Or am I just way out in left field.

MrSoprano is a native speaker. You don't need an "a" before los abogados because in Spanish that is the subject of the verb facilitaron. - Jubilado, Sep 14, 2013

Answer 1

• "Empecé a leer unos artículos que encontré en Internet y en los libros de derecho que me facilité facilitaron los abogados."

They were who supplied the books to me; "facilitaron" is the correct conjugation of the verb "facilitar" in this case.

Everything else seems good to me. Your translation agrees with the Spanish one - nothing is missing.

So should there be an "a" before the Los abogados? - warzone, Sep 14, 2013

Like Jubilado said, it is not necessary. - 00483d91, Sep 14, 2013

I hate to be so dense but without a preposition of some sort before "Los abrigados" how do I really understand that the books were supplied by the lawyers.? - warzone, Sep 14, 2013

Answer 2

Hi again warzone, I'll try to clarify your doubts.

As Jubilado stated, in the sentence "... los libros de derecho que me facilitaron los abogados.", "los abogados" is the subject. (The lawyers gave me the books).

In fact, you can say: "... los libros de derecho que me facilitaron los abogados a mí." (to me) but it's well understood and can be omitted because you've already used the pronoun "me" (a mí - to me).

If it were you who supplied the books to the lawyers, then it would be: ".. los libros de derecho que facilité a los abogados." or "los libros de derecho que les facilité". Again, a pronoun shows up; "les" = "a ellos" / to them.

Thank you for your patience. It is just so hard for my 65 year old English brain to wrap my mind around having the subject of a sentence be the last two words I read. - warzone, Sep 14, 2013

We're welcome. Keep on learning! - 00483d91, Sep 14, 2013

Answer 3

¡Hola, warzone!

I just wanted to say that I am 69 (as of 3 days ago) and I continue to learn. I'll admit it's hard to remember quickly so sometimes I have to go over and over something. If you ever want help on a more personal level you can send me a personal message (PM) and I will be glad to help if I can.

Solo quiero decir que acabo de cumplir 69 años y sigo aprender aprendiendo. Claro es difícil recordar rapidamente y por eso tengo que repetir en la mente mi cabeza lo que estoy aprendiendo. Si quieres ayuda en un foro más personal envíeme un mensaje personal (MP) y estaré muy contento encantado de ayudarte, si se puede en lo que pueda.

[Qualquier hispanohablante, corrija mis errores, por favor] Gracias, MrSoprano.

Gracias. How do I contact you? - warzone, Sep 14, 2013