saw a lion killed

Spanish translation: David vio matar a un hombre

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

English term or phrase:	saw a man killed
Spanish translation:	David vio matar a un hombre
Entered by:	Bill Greendyk

15:03 Mar 12, 2002

English to Spanish translations [Non-PRO]
Art/Literary / Children's literature

English term or phrase: saw a lion killed

"David saw a man killed."

This is from a children's story, and it's got me puzzled. The idea is that David saw a man BE KILLED. If I go for "David vio a un hombre matado," it sounds forced and incorrect grammatically. If I say "David vio matar a un hombre," which I believe is grammatically correct, it could have a double meaning, (it could also mean he saw a man "kill.") Thanks for your suggestions as always!

Bill Greendyk KudoZ activity Questions: 239 (none open) Answers: 1354 United States
Local time: 12:41

David vio matar a un hombre

Explanation:
"David vio matar a un hombre" is totally correct, as long David saw the man being killed. If the man was killing someone else, then you would translate it as "David vio a un hombre matar..."

Selected response from:

Roger Martin
Local time: 12:41

Grading comment

Thanks, after all is said and done I'll stick with this, which is what I originally had. Thanks Inteja and Andrea for confirming this for me.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

5 +12

David vio cómo mataban a un hombre

Andrea Bullrich

4 +2

David vio matar a un hombre

Roger Martin

Vio a un hombre asesinado

Claudia Iglesias

hizo que mataran a un hombre

Óscar Delgado Gosálvez

Discussion entries: 2

Answers

2 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +12

David vio cómo mataban a un hombre

Explanation:
Only one I can think of... :-)

Andrea

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Note added at 2002-03-12 15:09:05 (GMT)
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Yep, I was wondering what had happened to the lion... :-)

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Note added at 2002-03-12 15:30:48 (GMT)
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Yep, I was wondering what had happened to the lion... :-)

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Note added at 2002-03-12 15:32:03 (GMT)
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Yep, I was wondering what had happened to the lion... :-)

Andrea Bullrich
Local time: 13:41
Native speaker of: Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 1650

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)

agree

Fernando Muela Sopeña: Perfecto, Andrea... Eso, ¿y el león?

5 mins

-> Y, me alegro que haya zafado el león, pero pobre el tipo, digo yo. William, no podés hacer que sea al revés? O que nadie se muera? :-(((

agree

Margaret Schroeder: Very common. More examples: EN: I was given a present. SP: Me dieron un regalo. EN: Our house was painted last week. SP: Nos pintaron la casa la semana pasada. etc.:

8 mins

agree

Yolanda Morato: el giro perfecto ;)

15 mins

agree

Claudia Campbell: La única forma posible. Saludos :-)

17 mins

agree

Carlos Moreno

17 mins

agree

Claudia Iglesias: De acuerdo, pero mira mi sugerencia.

23 mins

-> ah, ahora veo la aclaración, gracias! :-)

agree

Egmont: ok

25 mins

agree

olv10siq

34 mins

agree

Noemi Carrera: Me gusta esta construcción, pero prefiero"asesinaban" a "mataban".

57 mins

agree

Gustavo Carias: Pienso que Andrea dio en el clavo

1 hr

agree

Maria Dolors Gonzálvez Playà

5 hrs

agree

raulruiz: perfecto, Andrea

1 day 1 hr

24 mins confidence:

Vio a un hombre asesinado

Explanation:
Otra sugerencia

You say :The idea is that David saw a man BE KILLED.

Por qué no puede ser "he saw a man killed? Lo traduciría como te lo pongo aquí.

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Note added at 2002-03-12 16:11:39 (GMT)
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As you say now \"David saw the man BEING KILLED\" this answer isn\'t valid.

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Note added at 2002-03-12 16:12:12 (GMT) Post-grading
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As you say now \"David saw the man BEING KILLED\" this answer isn\'t valid.

Claudia Iglesias
Chile
Local time: 12:41
Native speaker of:

French,

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 242

30 mins confidence:

hizo que mataran a un hombre

Explanation:
Imagino que la frase es incorrecta en ingles, si no lo fuera, significaria que hizo que mataran a un hombre.

Óscar Delgado Gosálvez
United States
Local time: 12:41
Native speaker of:

Spanish
PRO pts in pair: 301

32 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +2

David vio matar a un hombre

Roger Martin
Local time: 12:41
PRO pts in pair: 8

Grading comment

Thanks, after all is said and done I'll stick with this, which is what I originally had. Thanks Inteja and Andrea for confirming this for me.

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