May 31, 2010 13:35
14 yrs ago
English term
I don't think he went to the party.
Non-PRO
English to Spanish
Other
General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
In English it is common to say "I don't think" followed by the past tense. For example,
I don't think he was there last night.
I don't think he studied for the test.
But I have trouble expressing this in a natural way in Spanish. Is it normal and natural to say the following?
1. No creo que (él) haya ido a la fiesta.
2. No creo que (él) fuera a la fiesta.
3. Creo que no fue a la fiesta. (Although this last one is changing the idea around a tiny bit.)
How do you translaters and interpreters render these sentences into Spanish? Let's say there was a party last night and you did not see John, so you don't think he was there.
I welcome all sorts of regional differences. Please tell me what sounds natural to you.
Thanks for your help. :)
I don't think he was there last night.
I don't think he studied for the test.
But I have trouble expressing this in a natural way in Spanish. Is it normal and natural to say the following?
1. No creo que (él) haya ido a la fiesta.
2. No creo que (él) fuera a la fiesta.
3. Creo que no fue a la fiesta. (Although this last one is changing the idea around a tiny bit.)
How do you translaters and interpreters render these sentences into Spanish? Let's say there was a party last night and you did not see John, so you don't think he was there.
I welcome all sorts of regional differences. Please tell me what sounds natural to you.
Thanks for your help. :)
Proposed translations
(Spanish)
| 5 +4 | All three options are correct |
Alicia González-Camino (X)
|
| 4 +3 | No creo que haya ido a la fiesta. |
Cecilia Rey
|
| 4 +1 | Creo que no estuvo en la fiesta. |
Lillian van den Broeck
|
Proposed translations
+4
9 mins
Selected
All three options are correct
They are all correct, with slight changes in meaning.
1. haya ido - closer to the present (maybe you're talking about John not attending the party the same day/night of the party)
2. fuera - could be a party years ago
3. as you say, it expresses the idea in another way, but it is also correct and natural Spanish
Congratulations for your Spanish! :)
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Note added at 12 mins (2010-05-31 13:47:57 GMT)
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The important thing to remember is that sentences like "creer que" in negative ("no creo que") always ask for subjunctive.
You can say "creo que fue a la fiesta" (indicative)
But you must say "no creo que fuera a la fiesta" (subjunctive, whether you choose to use the past perfect or past simple, in this case)
1. haya ido - closer to the present (maybe you're talking about John not attending the party the same day/night of the party)
2. fuera - could be a party years ago
3. as you say, it expresses the idea in another way, but it is also correct and natural Spanish
Congratulations for your Spanish! :)
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Note added at 12 mins (2010-05-31 13:47:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------
The important thing to remember is that sentences like "creer que" in negative ("no creo que") always ask for subjunctive.
You can say "creo que fue a la fiesta" (indicative)
But you must say "no creo que fuera a la fiesta" (subjunctive, whether you choose to use the past perfect or past simple, in this case)
Note from asker:
| Thanks for such a detailed response, Alicia. I really appreciate it. |
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer.
+1
7 mins
Lillian van den Broeck
Mexico
Mexico
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
Mexico
Lillian van den Broeck, writer and poet
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Spanish to English, French to Spanish, and 3 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
4
Creo que no estuvo en la fiesta.
According to explanation.
Note from asker:
| This answer is very logical. Thank you, Lillian. |
+3
5 mins
Cecilia Rey
Argentina
Argentina
Native in Spanish
Specializes in field
Argentina
Excelencia en la lengua española
Native in: Spanish
Works in: English to Spanish, Italian to Spanish, Portuguese to Spanish, and 2 more.
Related KudoZ points
:
81
No creo que haya ido a la fiesta.
In this sentence, the past tense in English corresponds to the subjunctive mood.
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 14:52:19 GMT)
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As my peer has stated, the three sentences are gramatically correct in Spanish, but there are slight differences in meaning and use.
Sentence #1 is the most "natural" translation in this context, IMO. The verb tense in Spanish is "pretérito perfecto del subjuntivo".
Although Sentence # 2 is correct, it is very formal. It is not used in colloquial language, it would sound awkward. The tense in Spanish is "pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo"
Sentence # 3 is also correct and also very natural, but I would back translate it as:
"I think he didn't go to the party."
I agree that your Spanish is very good indeed!
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 14:59:16 GMT)
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oops
"graMMatically"
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 15:08:33 GMT)
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Sentence #2
No CREÍ que fuera/fuese a la fiesta.
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 14:52:19 GMT)
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As my peer has stated, the three sentences are gramatically correct in Spanish, but there are slight differences in meaning and use.
Sentence #1 is the most "natural" translation in this context, IMO. The verb tense in Spanish is "pretérito perfecto del subjuntivo".
Although Sentence # 2 is correct, it is very formal. It is not used in colloquial language, it would sound awkward. The tense in Spanish is "pretérito imperfecto de subjuntivo"
Sentence # 3 is also correct and also very natural, but I would back translate it as:
"I think he didn't go to the party."
I agree that your Spanish is very good indeed!
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 14:59:16 GMT)
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oops
"graMMatically"
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Note added at 1 hr (2010-05-31 15:08:33 GMT)
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Sentence #2
No CREÍ que fuera/fuese a la fiesta.
Note from asker:
| Muchísimas gracias, Cecilia. Me has ayudado mucho. |
Peer comment(s):
| agree |
nahuelhuapi
: correcto
0 min
|
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Gracias nahuelhuapi.
|
|
| agree |
Pullipina
12 mins
|
|
Gracias Pullipina.
|
|
| agree |
Onandia Martinez
20 mins
|
|
Gracias Onandia.
|
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