Translation

Question

This is a re-posting of an earlier question deleted due to my freshness here...Anyway.

Can anyone help me on the following sentence?

"Pero Pepe es amigo de las flores del bosque y no las arranca si no que les pide que se vayan con el"

Gracias.

Answer 1

Alan, will be you so kind as to read the rules!!! I mean, it is very clear how to post a thread!
I was the one to leave you a note on your page and delete your thread, which was entitled: translation!

I will leave this one exceptionally because many people have already taken their time to answer.

Answer 2

Thanks James, appreciated. =)

Answer 3

1.arranca

From arrancar. Literally, "he plucks or pulls out or yanks out," but I think "he picks" is more appropriate here.

2.sino que = instead'

Yes, but we often don't translate this part in English. For example, we could say, "But Pepe is a friend of the flowers in the forest, and he doesn't pick them, he asks them to go with him."

3. que se vayan

Typical subjunctive phrase that is similar to a command.

He told me to go = Me dijo que vaya.

Answer 4

Rob & Andi said:

I think it's irony. "But Pepe is a friend of the flowers of the forest and never pulls them out by the roots without first asking them to come with him."

I don't believe "sino que" allows that interpretation, which would require "sin que," and which would have to be followed by the subjunctive. Since "pide" is in the indicative, we know that it can't be "sin que," and must be "sino que." Furthermore, since the subject doesn't change, we would have to use the infinitive after sin, rather than using "que + conjugated verb."

...sino que les pide que se vayan con él = and instead asks them to go with him
...sin pedirles que se vayan con él = without (first) asking them to go with him

Answer 5

Thanks Rob & Andi.

I guess your translation is even more literal than James' while the "never pulls them out by the roots without first asking them to come with him" part is rephrased better by James.

Either way, thanks for you guys.

Answer 6

Thanks a lot for your reminder James! I'll pay attention in the future.

Could you help me a little further by putting the meanings in English for the following pieces?

1.arranca

2.sino que = instead?

1. que se vayan

Thank you.

Answer 7

I think it's irony. "But Pepe is a friend of the flowers of the forest and never pulls them out by the roots without first asking them to come with him."

Answer 8

Alan, this thread may be deleted, too, because of its title. Use words specific to your question.

"But Pepe is a friend of the flowers in the forest, and he doesn't pick them, and instead asks them to go with him."

"Si no" should be sino here.