"They don't like him and he doesn't like them."

Question

Hi Guys

Some Members will know the Spanish learners' reading series about the detective "Lola Lago". A paragraph in the 'Poderoso caballero' book says:

"Inspector Gil es un inspector de policía de Madrid. No le gustan las mujeres detective."

It set me thinking about a couple of points, and I've been getting into some knots:

1) I was surprised it doesn't say "mujeres detectives". Is it right? If so, why's that?

2) I thought it would be interesting to say "He doesn't like female detectives and female detectives don't like him." Hehe, I thought it would be easy, but I'm struggling. And machine-translators seem more confused than me. (^_-) Here's my best shot:

No le gustan las mujeres detective(s) y a las mujeres detectives no les gusta.

If that happens to be right (hmm) it doesn't emphasise "him". But I'm very doubtful about this:

No le gustan las mujeres detective(s) y a las mujeres detectives no les gusta a él tampoco.

I only justify bothering you kind people because it seems a useful construction that can apply to various situations. I appreciate if you have time to guide me. Thanks

Answer 1

To answer question 1

On occasion a term in Spanish is created with two nouns, not a noun and an adjective, in such cases the principal noun is the only one that gets pluralized. Detective here is a noun, not an adjective.

Here is an example

http://www.fundeu.es/recomendacion/horas-punta-no-horas-puntas-1391/

El plural de la expresión hora punta es horas punta y no horas puntas.

Sin embargo, en los medios de comunicación a menudo se forma inapropiadamente el plural del compuesto hora punta, que se refiere a los momentos de mayor tráfico vehicular o de pasajeros en el transporte público: «En otras zonas donde hay colegios se corta la calle al tráfico en las horas puntas», «Sigue congestionándose la carretera en las horas puntas».

Algunos de los compuestos formados por dos sustantivos, como ciudad dormitorio, hombre rana o sofá cama, forman el plural añadiendo -s (o -es) solamente a la primera palabra: horas punta, ciudades dormitorio, hombres rana o sofás cama, como se explica en la Nueva gramática de la lengua española.

Por lo tanto, en los ejemplos anteriores lo apropiado habría sido escribir «En otras zonas donde hay colegios se corta la calle al tráfico en las horas punta», «Sigue congestionándose la carretera en las horas punta».

For part 2:\

No le gustan las mujeres detective(s) y a las mujeres detectives no les gusta.

If you kill the attempt to pluralize detective it seems okay. For emphasis and contrast you could add the parts in parentheses as I see it. Note it is él not a él in the last part, it is the subject of gusta, not an object, like it is in the first part (note the a in front of las mujeres only occurs in one place as well). The a él plus the él to me adds very nice contrast and hence is not overuse of subject pronouns if you are trying to do that contrast. I like your tampoco as well.

(A él) no le gustan las mujeres detective y a las mujeres detective no les gusta (él) (tampoco)

I am a learner as well, await other input.

Fantastic!! Thanks so much for explaining that so clearly. - tsuchan, Mar 25, 2017

okay I have added your second part, sorry it takes a little while to do these. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

And thanks for help with the second part too. [Hug!] That's brilliant advice, and I see now what you mean about 'a' not being needed after 'les gusta'. - tsuchan, Mar 25, 2017

De nada. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

Answer 2

I agree with Bosquederoble, although in the first phrase it would be well understood who is not pleased probably from prior context, so "A él" would normally not be used (this assumes it´s not just a single sentence by itself). In the second phrase "A él" in most cases would be used to show the opposite feeling from the first phrase just as in English.

Thanks, Julian. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

Did you mean in the second part "él", and would you delete "a las mujeres" from the second part if you deleted "a él" from the first. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

I mean: no le gustan las mujeres detective y no les gusta él tampoco. - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

Easier to just say it: "No le gustan las mujeres detective y a ellas no les gusta él (tampoco)". This assumes he is known from prior context - 005faa61, Mar 25, 2017

Thanks. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 25, 2017

A pleasure as always - 005faa61, Mar 25, 2017

I hope it is evident that I learn from what you tell me. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 26, 2017

For me the best thanks is someone actually learning from what I say. I assume that is why you are here. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 26, 2017

I agree and your grammar knowledge is excellent. I think that being forced to explain something actually increases your own knowledge of the subject. Points are the least of it - 005faa61, Mar 26, 2017

That is why I answer grammar questions, when I explain it it sticks with me much better than if I just read it. :) - bosquederoble, Mar 26, 2017

But your command of both Spanish and English seem perfect. So while my primary motive is my own personal learning, I have assumed yours is a desire to help others learn. - bosquederoble, Mar 26, 2017

Answer 3

Just to add to all these great answers, you could also say: (A ellas) (él) no les cae bien y (a él) (ellas) no le caen bien. I think people generally use "caer" to express liking for a person.

I agree, but keep in mind that "caerse bien" is idiomatic and maybe not so common in Spain as in the Americas - 005faa61, Mar 26, 2017

Answer 4

A mi parecer, es más conciso e igualmente correcto decir, "No le gustan las mujeres detective y viceversa.".

Como en toda forma de hablar, hay muchos variantes que se pueden usar para impartir una idea y tu opción es una de ellas siendo válida - 005faa61, Mar 26, 2017