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shoe

Jun 26, 2006, 11:53 AM

Post #1 of 10 (4878 views)

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Contractions

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Are there lots of contractions in Spanish to confuse me further? If so, where would i find a book explaining them?

I only know of one that I have heard a lot and that is mi'jo (a) which I understand is mi hijo (a). I may have heard lots more but did not understand that it was a contraction as I did not recognize the words or expressions.

cya,
shoe

Nothing is intrinsically good or evil, but its manner of usage may make it so.
-St. Thomas Aquinas

Rolly

Jun 26, 2006, 12:31 PM

Post #2 of 10 (4875 views)

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Re: [shoe] Contractions

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Mijo is not written with an apostrophe ('). ' is not used in Spanish and does not appear on a Spanish keyboard.

While mijo means my son, it is frequently used between friends. I sometimes use it to call a waiter.

Another common contraction is del = de el

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

quevedo

Jun 26, 2006, 6:04 PM

Post #3 of 10 (4861 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Apóstrofo

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The apostrophe (apóstrofo) is a valid ortographic sign in Spanish, as Diccionario de la Real Academia Española (D.R.A.E.) states:

apóstrofo

1. m. Signo ortográfico (') que indica la elisión de una letra o cifra.

(Ortographic sign (') that indicates the omission of a letter or figure.)

It was more used in other times, specially in poetry, to indicate the omission of a vocal: d'aquel for de aquel; l'aspereza instead of la aspereza; qu'es in place of que es. Today it is still in use; again, mainly in poetry.

A beautiful example:

Mas la fortuna, de mi mal no harta,
me aflige y d'un trabajo en otro lleva;
ya de la patria, ya del bien me aparta,
ya mi paciencia en mil maneras prueba,
y lo que siento más es que la carta
donde mi pluma en tu alabanza mueva,
poniendo en su lugar cuidados vanos,
me quita y m'arrebata de las manos.

Garcilaso de la Vega, Égloga III.

The apóstrofo (') shares space in my Spanish keyboard with the closing interrogation sign, (?).

Un saludo cordial,

Q'vedo

quevedo

Jun 26, 2006, 6:23 PM

Post #4 of 10 (4857 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Apóstrofo

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The examples I gave were omissions of letters; but the D.R.A.E. definition speaks of letters or figures.

Would anyone like to provide more examples?

Gracias saludos,

Quevedo

(This post was edited by quevedo on Jun 27, 2006, 9:02 AM)

Rolly

Jun 26, 2006, 6:47 PM

Post #5 of 10 (4854 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Apóstrofo

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"The apóstrofo (') shares space in my Spanish keyboard with the closing interrogation sign, (?)."

Intersting. I have never seen one on a Spanish keyboard. My first year in mexico I had to use internet cafes, and they never had '. What kind is yours?

Rolly Pirate

E-visit me http://Rollybrook.com
On Facebook as Rolly Brook

quevedo

Jun 26, 2006, 10:25 PM

Post #6 of 10 (4843 views)

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Re: [Rolly] Apóstrofo

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A plain, simple Toshiba laptop with the standard Spanish keyboard. If I remember well, many Spanish keyboards have the apostrophe sign in the same key as the number seven (7).

Saludos,

Quevedo

Oscar2

Jun 27, 2006, 12:09 AM

Post #7 of 10 (4834 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Apóstrofo

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Yo (m’cedo) aquí asta que se baja el sol. Y cuando brillan las estrías en tus ojos, es cuando me día se completa.

I (will stay) until sun sets. And my day will be complete when the stars shine in your eyes.

I’m not sure but I think me cedo can be apostrophized as, m’cedo

jerezano

Jun 27, 2006, 9:00 AM

Post #8 of 10 (4816 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Apóstrofo

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Hola,

Tigre d' Mar Tigre del Mar
Sala d' Belleza Sala de la Belleza (Probably the d' is improperly used)

One sees the apostrophe a lot in the signboards.

Adios. jerezano

quevedo

Jun 27, 2006, 9:09 AM

Post #9 of 10 (4814 views)

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Re: [Oscar2] Apóstrofo

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Yo m'quedo aquí hasta que baje el sol.
Y cuando brillan las estrellas en tus ojos
es cuando mi día se completa.

Nice words for a nice lady.

Saludos,

Quevedo

Oscar2

Jun 27, 2006, 9:53 AM

Post #10 of 10 (4811 views)

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Re: [quevedo] Apóstrofo

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Gracias. Y se, es cierto pero se necesita escribir correcto de primero para la señoría pueda comprende lo que una esta desciendo. Con mas practica y concentración adelanté se va aparecer mas claro.

¡Muy amable!