Do the following sentences have correct grammatical structure?

Question

Do the following sentences have correct grammatical structure?

1. Los encomenderos pudieron extraer tributo de los indígenas.
2. Los españoles debieron proporcionar protección y educación para trabajo y tributo de los nativos.

For the highlighted words, is it correct for past tense to conjugate the first verb with preterite (this is the only form of past tense I am allowed to use right now) followed by an unconjugated verb or does the second verb have to be conjugated somehow?

welcome to the forum. can you add your language level in English and Spanish to your profile ? In Spanish the second verb remains infinitive - Mardle, May 14, 2016

Answer 1

Your sentences are correct. Generally speaking when you have two verbs coming right together, the second verb can be in the infinitive as you have done. With forms of "estar" the second verb can be a present participle (ending in "ando" or "iendo/yendo." Sometimes, depending on the first verb, the second one can even be a past participle, ("ado" "ido") This usually happens when the first verb is a form of "haber."

What you have is just fine.

Answer 2

This sounds like a habitual action in history, so the poder and deber should be in imperfect. Also I would use articles with trabajo and tributo in the second sentence,

Answer 3

Los encomenderos pudieron extraer tributo de los indígenas. The words "pudieron extraer tributo" isn't 100% correct, a "tributo" is something that is mandatory, you could use the word "demanded".

She was instructed to use the preterite. Otherwise I would agree with you. - Daniela2041, May 16, 2016

Thanks for the observation. "Pudieron extraer tributo" is understandable but, will sound better usoing the word "Exigieron - EleRo, May 18, 2016

"Pudieron" means that you did something, something after a few tries. "Exigieron", means that something is demanded, you don't have the choice of doing it or not. - EleRo, May 18, 2016

They make them pay "tributo" , "Les hicieron pagar tributo" "tributos" - EleRo, May 18, 2016

Or, "les exigieron pagar tributos", "los obligaron a pagar tributo/s. They all explain the idea. - EleRo, May 18, 2016

Answer 4

demande in spanish is "exigierón"