https://www.proz.com/kudoz/english-to-spanish/art-arts-crafts-painting/6248722-had-been-married-two-years.html
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Glossary entry

English term or phrase:

had been married two years

Spanish translation:

llevaba dos años casada

    The asker opted for community grading. The question was closed on 2016-12-27 10:54:08 based on peer agreement (or, if there were too few peer comments, asker preference.)
Dec 24, 2016 08:18
7 yrs ago
2 viewers *
English term

had been married two years

Non-PRO English to Spanish Art/Literary Art, Arts & Crafts, Painting short story
Dear All,
I am translating a small part of "A Cup of Tea" by K. Mansfield
When she writes ... "had been married two years", is it the same meaning
as if we say: "had been married for two years"?

The translation should be: habia estado casada por dos anos

Thank you very much
Proposed translations (Spanish)
4 +9 llevaba dos años casada
Change log

Dec 24, 2016 11:26: patinba changed "Level" from "PRO" to "Non-PRO"

Votes to reclassify question as PRO/non-PRO:

Non-PRO (3): Charles Davis, Kirsten Larsen (X), patinba

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Discussion

Jennifer Levey Dec 24, 2016:
Omission of 'for' As Charles has mentioned, this kind of omission is allowed in English. In this sentence, 'for' is, as they say, "understood". The problem, of course, is that so much of what is "understood" by native English-speakers (and, hence, dropped from the sentence) is not understood by non-natives.

Whether or not "understood" words are omitted very much depends on whether the author wants to favour literary style - or international communication. It seems K. Mansfield was biased more towards the former than the latter.
Charles Davis Dec 24, 2016:
@nhorma Yes, the meaning is exactly the same with or without "for". The omission of "for" here is not authorial licence or literary usage; it's just something that can be done in this context in English. You can say either "I've been working here twenty years" or "I've been working here for twenty years", for example. They're exactly equivalent.

Proposed translations

+9
7 mins
Selected

llevaba dos años casada

"had been married two years" has the same meaning
as "had been married for two years"

--------------------------------------------------
Note added at 26 mins (2016-12-24 08:44:57 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

No recomiendo la traducción literal que propones por dos motivos:

1º "por dos años" es un calco del inglés. En español diríamos "durante dos años" o simplemente "había estado dos años casada"

2º Es ambiguo. Se puede interpretar que estuvo casada durante dos años en el pasado pero ya no lo está.
Note from asker:
is this a sort of author's permission. I would have used "for". Thanks again
Peer comment(s):
agree Karin Monteiro-Zwahlen
8 mins
Gracias Karin - Bea
agree Charles Davis
1 hr
Gracias Charles - Bea
agree Jennifer Levey : And if the ambiguity of the English was intentional? - You've lost it in translation :) We'd need to read the story to translate it unambiguously. // Proof (as if needed it) of the value of context and research. Season's Greetings!
3 hrs
El preguntante nos da el título de la obra, así que la busqué: http://tvtolstova.narod.ru/olderfiles/1/A_Cup_of_Tea.pdf y comprobé que está felizmente casada. El contexto manda. // Cierto, saludos cordiales y buenas fiestas.
agree Mónica Algazi
4 hrs
Gracias Mónica - Bea
agree Jesus Tena
7 hrs
Gracias Jesús - Bea
agree Julieta Perez
8 hrs
Gracias Julieta - Bea
agree Nelly Alejandra Alister : Estuvo casada por dos años, pero no sabemos si aún lo está. https://espanol.lingolia.com/es/gramatica/tiempos/preterito-...
13 hrs
Sí, sabemos que está casada desde hace dos años con un marido riquísimo que la adora. Se trata de un cuento corto muy conocido http://tvtolstova.narod.ru/olderfiles/1/A_Cup_of_Tea.pdf. Saludos y muchas gracias - Bea
agree JohnMcDove : ¡Y felices Navidades...! ;-))
23 hrs
Todo lo mejor para tí John - Bea
agree Catalina Flores : Muy bien explicado
17 days
Muchas gracias Catalina - Bea
Something went wrong...
4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thank you very much!"