Help with best choice of translation
I would like to include a translation to Spanish of the following phrase: Please ensure that this door remains locked.
Here are three automated translations I received. Any advice on the best choice or even another variation I should consider? Thanks!!
Por favor, asegúrese de que la puerta permanece bloqueada.
Asegure por favor que esta puerta se queda cerrado.
Asegúrese por favor de que esta puerta siga siendo bloqueada.
5 Answers
LadyDi said:
At the risk of sparking another heated discussion =] ... should the verbs used here be in the subjunctive?
Not really, and this is a rather subtle point with this verb, because it has two readings: to check that something has been done (using indicative, since you'll be declaring it), or to make sure that something has been done (subjunctive, since you can't declare it before you do it). The second one is impossible with things out of your control, such as "Asegúrate de que llueva este mes".
At the risk of sparking another heated discussion =] ... should the verbs used here be in the subjunctive'
James Santiago said:
The English is rather formal, so here's my version.
Favor de asegurarse de que esta puerta quede cerrada con llave.
I am perfectly aware that your formula (Favor de...) is widely used in formal Spanish in many parts of America, but in Spain it is considered colloquial and unacceptable in writing. Unless I'm mistaken, a simple "Hagan el favor de..." would turn it into a formal expression everywhere in the world; otherwise, Vicki's first choice sounds good enough for me.
The English is rather formal, so here's my version.
Favor de asegurarse de que esta puerta quede cerrada con llave.
:
Por favor, asegúrese de que la puerta permanece bloqueada. Asegúrese por favor de que esta puerta se queda cerrada. Asegúrese por favor de que esta puerta siga estando bloqueada.
I'd go for the first one, although in Spain we say "cerrada con llave" for locked, if the door has to be locked with a key.
