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29 OCT - 4 NOV 2010
The verb “ponerse”
Spanish lessons by
Jane Cronin
A weekly ‘cut out and keep’ feature helping you to learn basic Spanish for everyday needs
Lesson 131
FOLLOWING ON from last week’s article about common errors, I have one thing left to nag about which there wasn’t room for. It is about English speakers’ persistent use of the English “sh” sound when speaking Spanish. As common as this sound is in English, it actually does not exist in Spanish. To prove my point I would now like you to do a small experiment. Listen carefully to yourself saying the following words out loud, in your usual accent: “estación”, “oficial”, “especialista”, “recepcionista”, “urbanización”. I know I can’t hear you, but I’d put money on the fact the vast majority of readers will have said: “estaSHon”, “ofiSHal”, “espeSHalista”, “resepSHonista”, “erbanizaSHun”. Notice that in each case, the letters you have been replacing are the “ci” combination, and this, as I am sure you know, is pronounced like the English “th” sound, and followed of course by other wellenunciated vowels. Now for the actual subject of this article which is something entirely different. It is in fact the use of the verb “ponerse”. This can be loosely, and most unhelpfully, translated as “to put oneself”, on the grounds that “poner” means “to put” and the “se” ending means that it is a reflexive verb. However, this translation is not a great deal of help so we are better off looking at examples of its use. The first and most basic example is in relation to putting on clothes. A mother might say to a child: “Ponte la chaqueta”, when we would say “put on your jacket”. A more literal translation would be: “Put the jacket on yourself”.
UtopiaCats adoption day
UTOPIACATS adoption day is at Pet Shop Patricia on the main road of La Marina village, on Monday, 1st November, from 11.30 to 13.30. UtopiaCats is a small group of people re-homing abandoned cats. You can view those ready for adoption on the 1st Monday of every month. If you are not available to meet us there but are interested in visiting the cattery, call 654 886 108. As always, if you do not want to adopt now, you can still help by donating cat food, cat litter, or a few euros.
Notice that in this kind of sentence we don’t say “your jacket” (tu chaqueta) but “the jacket” (la chaqueta), whilst the verb is reflexive (giving us the “you” bit). “Ponerse” has other uses which are often to do with reactions to situations: for example “Mi padre se puso muy enfadado” (my father got (put himself) very angry). “Me puse roja como un tomate” (I went (put myself) as red as a tomato). “No te pongas nervioso” (Don’t get (put yourself) nervous). As you can see I am using different verb forms and tense in my examples, but they are all variations of the infinitive verb “ponerse”. The other evening I had to attend a gala ceremony, which I’d love to tell you about but now is not the moment, prior to which I was instructed by a friend here in San Pedro with “ponte guapa”. This does not mean (as the literal meaning “put yourself pretty” sounds) that I had to rush off and have emergency plastic surgery, however necessary that might be. What she meant was that I should “pretty myself up” or perhaps “put on my glad rags”, which I duly endeavoured to do. There is quite a wide range of other uses of “ponerse”, for example “me pongo delante” means “I’ll go (put myself) in front”, likewise “me pongo detrás” (I’ll go behind). Both phrases would be suitable when deciding where to sit in a car. Also, when we want to contact someone we can say: “Quiero ponerme en contacto con Paco”. My choice of the name Paco is not as random as it might appear: I have a theory that most of the people here who actually get anything
Autumn Afghan Heroes Events HALLOWEEN 4 Afghan Heroes is on Saturday 30th October from 20.00 at JD’s Bar in Lo Pagan (opposite the windmill) in San Pedro, with popular Cathy Carson donating her time, joined by Pride of Spain winners in 2009 TAABS, and providing the dance element are the colourful Iceni Dancers. Tickets at €5 are available from Paul at JD’s Bar on 968 178 126, with food available on the night. All ticket and raffle proceeds to Afghan Heroes: fancy dress is optional, but we will be making an effort! The Club in Quesada will host a night of entertainment with Tony
done are called “Paco”, therefore they are the most useful people to get into contact with. This theory is based on years of research. And finally, an excuse for not attending your Spanish class – “Mi perro se puso enfermo anoche” (my dog fell ill last night) – which is a variant on “The dog ate my homework”, and is equally unacceptable. See you next week.
Lincoln on Wednesday 3rd November at 20.00. Marie Evans will add a touch of glamour; Nick Barker with his fun style and Charles Cole, (Coles County) brings 50’s, 60’s and Country Music. Tickets are €5, on sale at The Club, Quesada; The Post Room, Benijofar and by contacting Chrissie on 966 181 943. The Afghan Heroes ‘Ello, Ello’ after show party will be held at Casa Ventura on Saturday 13th November from 19.30: Cathy Carosn, TAABS and The Iceni Dancers will be performing. Tickets €5; details as above. Volunteers to raise funds for Afghan Heroes please call Jackie on 697 501 992. Also visit www.expats4afghanheroes.com.