Question:
I am preparing some material for the ESL class which I teach. This week I
have to cover some material which my poor Spanish and even my great
dictionaries are not up to. The lesson pertains to asking directions. The
first problem is with "walk up/down Main Street". In my experience we
(native English speakers) sometimes use "walk up/down" when there will be a
change in elevation but also sometimes use "walk up/down" when there will be
no change in elevation. (In fact, the pictures in the text book indicate
that it is using "walk up/down" when there will be no change in elevation.)
My dictionaries indicate that "walk up/down" when there will be a change in
elevation is "subir" (up) or "bajar andando" (down). But what about the
case when there will be no change in elevation?
Also, how do you say "next to", as in "the bank is next to the post office"?
(Sounds simple, I know. But it was not in my dictionaries.)
Finally, can you help me to complete the following ...
Can you please tell me (where is bank is?)... - Por favor, puede decirme
(dónde queda el banco?)
Could you please tell me ... - Por favor, ???????????? ...
Would you please tell me ... - Por favor, ????????????
Answer:
Ok, friend. I suspect these are the types of questions where the answers
will vary, depending where the language is spoken. Since you're in a bit of
a rush, we've got to get you started somehow:
walk up and down the street: caminar de arriba a abajo, ir de arriba a
abajo, recorrer la calle de arriba a abajo
ex: caminamos por Maple de arriba a abajo hasta cansarnos.
Fuimos de arriba a abajo por Maple hasta encontrar la casa.
Recorrimos Maple de arriba a abajo hasta llegar a......
Elevations of streets are called subidas, repechos....and if you're up
looking down: bajadas
"Subir la subida" and "bajar la bajada", even though they sound "ugly", are
used by many in popular language.
Possibly... caminar la subida, subir/caminar el repecho may be preferred by
some.
Some use 'tomar la bajada' 'tomar la subida'. Ex. Camine hasta el fin de
Maple, tome la subida a la derecha
......or simply "suba hasta encontrar......" "baje hasta encontrar"
One thing I noticed: this "bajar andando" something....you mean to "go
down", right?
Bajando por Maple, ok,
Bajar por Maple, andando hasta llegar al No. 20, Ok.
Andando por Maple, bajar hasta llegar a la casa....Sounds OK
Hay que 'bajar' andando por Maple' ok....
This expression 'bajar andando' may be used in an awkward manner. Gotto look
at the context......
"Also, how do you say "next to", as in "the bank is next to the post
office"?"
AL LADO.. DE(L)
EL BANCO ESTA AL LADO DEL CORREO
A SU LADO, AL LADO
La señora con el hijo a su lado -the lady with her son beside her, by her
side.
La señora tiene a su hijo al lado - the lady has her son by her side
Tengo un ojo verde y el otro a su lado...I'll explain another time...a
joke.
Expressions like CERCA DE mean nearby, but not "next to" or "to the side
of".
Can you please tell me (where is bank is?)... - Por favor, puede decirme
(dónde queda el banco?)
Por favor, puede decirme donde queda el banco?
dónde está el banco?
por dónde esta el banco?
cómo llegar al banco?
cómo puedo ir al banco desde aquí?....llegar al banco desde aquí encontrar
el banco desde aquí/o de donde estoy.
Could you please tell me ... - Por favor, ???????????? ...
Now, Bob, is it you asking "pretty please" or do you want the translation?
Por favor, me puede decir.........Por favor, "dígame" is imperative, and
sounds a bit too imperious, but some use it.
Would you please tell me ... - Por favor, ???????????? ...
Podría Ud. decirme, por favor......
Por favor, tendría Ud. la gentileza de.... decirme como puedo encontrar
un/el banco desde aquí.
(I know, a lot of words, but many use them for the "would you's", I do....
if I ask a lady)
I think this may be only a first round; I speak the language as spoken in
"South America South", that is Uruguay, Argentina.
I suspect others in this group may add or object. The thing is, you'll be
well understood both in Spain an S.A. even if they don't use exactly the
same expressions.
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