Derek Bristow
Spanish related Questions that I came across, please explain it in ENGLISH! 1. La lluvia arreciaba mientras-en cuanto volvían a la oficina. My book said mientras is right, but I am not sure why can't en cuanto be used here? Gramactically speacking, it is right, right? Can you explain? 2. Mientras-A medida que Pedro estuvo al lado de su esposa en el hospital, no fue nadie más a ver a la enferma. Which one to choose? Why? Also what does this sentence mean, is the following translation right: As Pedro was beside his wife in the hospital, no one else went to see the patient(the wife). I am confused, I mean does this mean the wife has no friends? Or Pedro is taking care of her so that nobody else should be worried enough to visit his wife? Or Pedro is just too scary....This question might sound silly, but it is what I want to know, only in that way, I can fully understand this sentence. PS: There is no context here. Looking forward to hearing from you all Thanks in advance!
Apr 21, 2016 3:13 PM
Answers · 3
1. La lluvia arreciaba mientras volvían a la oficina. can be translated as Rain intensified while they were on their way to the office you can't use "en cuanto" to express the same situation , since it expresses a completed action, example en cuanto llegaron a la oficina , la lluvia arrecio. as soon as they arrived to the office, rain intensified 2. Mientras Pedro estuvo al lado de su esposa en el hospital, no fue nadie más a ver a la enferma While Pedro was beside his wife in the hospital, no one else went to see the patient(the wife). you cant "A medida que" because it gives the sense of a progression, like something is going to happen over and over again, examples: A medida que surjan imprevistos modificaremos el plan original. Whenever unforeseen events occur, we will modify the original plan. A medida que creces cambian tus gustos. Your tastes change as you grow. and about the meaning, well, you cant tell the reason why... since there is no context but.. I wouldn't think that Pedro is a scary person , I would think that, everyone else was busy and couldn't make it to the hospital , or as you say, she has no friends, or maybe they were on vacations far away from home so there was no one near, otherwise it doesn't seem like a plausible situation hope it helps :) Saludos
April 21, 2016
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