Explanations for a few sentences needed!

Question

Hola a amigos, There are a few sentences that I need help with.

1. Toda madre teme por sus hijos pequenos. Does it translate as "all mothers are concerned about their little children"? I don't understand why "todas madres" are not used here?

2. Me regalas estos libros? Entonces me los llevo antes de que cambies de idea. Is me llevo a set structure, like llevarse? What does me los llevo mean? Why is cambiar used in the subjunctive form?

3. Por que enciendes la cocina? Nadie va a cocinar a esta hora. Son las dos de la madrugada. Does cocina mean kitchen or stove/cooker here?

Thanks very much!

Answer 1

My opinions as a fellow learner:

1. Toda madre teme por sus hijos pequenos. Does it translate as "all mothers are concerned about their little children"? I don't understand why "todas madres" are not used here?

Every mother is ….We have the same single/plural option in English

If you were going to use it in plural, which is possible... Todas las madres

1. Me regalas estos libros? Entonces me los llevo antes de que cambies de idea. Is me llevo a set structure, like llevarse? What does me los llevo mean? Why is cambiar used in the subjunctive form?

Then I (will) take them for myself before you change your mind. The me simply emphasizes you are taking them for your own purpose, as opposed to carrying them for someone else say. Antes de que always refers to a future hypothetical action and always requires subjunctive.

1. Por que enciendes la cocina? Nadie va a cocinar a esta hora. Son las dos de la madrugada. Does cocina mean kitchen or stove/cooker here?

I would think stove/cooker, as it would seem odd to turn on a kitchen (enciendes la luz en/de la cocina would be different), but turning on the stove makes a lot of sense.

I agree completely, however, in this sentence I would use only the plural of "madre" in Mexico because the word has so many idiomatic references, ie: "A toda madre, A tu madre", etc - 005faa61, Feb 21, 2017

Thanks, Julian, I also would have chosen todas las madres. :) - bosquederoble, Feb 21, 2017

Thank you both for your answers! By the way, what does "a toda madre, a tu madre" mean? - rachelxue, Feb 25, 2017

" a toda madre" (really cool / great) ... "(a) tu madre" (go to hell) - 005faa61, Feb 25, 2017