Challenge - Spanish Verbs Requiring a Preposition - "Cambiar" y "Cambiar de/por + object"
This is a new challenge along the lines of The Word of the Day and The Picture of the Day. However due to my other obligations it will not be daily but I will try to provide one as often as I can, although my work sometimes requires me to be away for a week at a time.
There are well over 200 Spansh verbs that have a different meaning when a preposition is attached to the verb. There are basically two formulas:
Verb + Preposition + Infinitive Verb
Verb + Preposition + Object
The prepositional form will be given and one of your sentences in both Spanish and English should use that form.
Your other sentence in both Spanish and English should address one of the normal usages (ie. non prepositional) of the verb.
Today's Words:
Cambiar = To Change, Exchange, Swap
- ¿Puedes cambiar dolares por pesos?
- Can you exchange dollars for pesos?
Cambiar de + Object = To Change ......
- ¿Podemos cambiar de tema? Estoy muy incómodo.
- Can we change the subject. I am very uncomfortable.
Cambiar por + Object = To Change for ......
- ¡Espérame! Voy a cambiarme por shorts.
- Wait! I am going to change into shorts.
This challenge should begin to focus all of us, especially me, on those pesky little prepositions that can change the entire meaning of a sentence.
Stealing the wording from The Word of the Day (thank you rac1) here are the guidelines.
There are many native English speakers here, most of us can offer great suggestions to the English sentences. I will do my best to go through them all, too. For the Spanish sentences, edit your posts according to the native Spanish speaker's suggestions. Use today's Word of the Day in your own Spanish sentence (and include the English translation as well). Try to use the word in a completely new way and vote on the sentences you like best. The winner will be chosen based upon the correct use of the word as well as the number of votes.
Write sentences at least 4-5 words long, but don't write a paragraph either. Write your Spanish sentence, but include the English translation as well. Make the corrections suggested by other users and moderators in the comments section (try not to use personal pronouns unless absolutely necessary). Use your own words! (Don't use a translator, copy from a book, use song lyrics, etc.) Please keep political, religious or personal statements to a minimum. This is a practice game.
5 Answers
I will change into my party dress.
Voy a cambiarme por mi vestido de fiesta.
I want to change my screen saver.
Quiero cambiar mi fondo de pantalla.
Pez: Quiero cambiar mi lugar de residencia por un más cómodo.
Fish: I want to change my place of residence for a more comfortable one.
Nuestro gobierno cambia los leyes a su antojo.
Our government changes the laws at their liking.
Decidió que quería cambiarse por alguien que tuviera más éxito con las damas, y fue a la peluquería para cambiar de aspecto y luego a la tienda para cambiar su vieja ropa por nueva, pero se dio cuenta de que sin cambiar de trabajo no iba a poder cambiar de casa, y sin eso no iba a cambiar su fortuna- bueno quizás podría decir “en tu casa no en la mía”.
He decided that he wanted to change into someone with more success with the ladies, and went to the hairdressers to change is appearance and then to the store to change his old clothes for new, but he realized that without changing his job he was not going to be able to change his house, and without that he was not going to change his luck- well maybe he could say “at your place not mine”.
Bueno, es tarde para cambiar, pero voy a cambiar de vida radicalmente.
Well, its a bit late to change but I'm going to turn my life around drastically.
I will swap my change of clothes in exchange for money change that will change the changing world.
Yo se cambiar mi cambio de ropa a cambio de cambio de moneda que va a cambiar el mundo cambiante.
