We deal here with verbs similar to gustar (to like). This verb requires a construction apparently opposite to its English counterpart and is thus called a 'reverse construction verb'.
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Question #10 - Gloss.?
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with a 'noun clause' subject.
Sometimes the subject of the verb can be a 'noun sentence' which is always considered 'third person singular'.
Improper agreement of the verb with a 'noun clause' subject.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper passive transformation.
Proper pseudo-passive for 'resultant state condition'.
There is a set of Spanish verbs akin to 'reverse construction verbs' admitting a pseudo-passive construction using the verb estar instead of ser. These are the verbs of emotional reaction and the pseudo-passive expresses a 'resultant (emotional) state'. For ex., for aburrir:
'Me aburre la película' -> 'Estoy aburrido por la película'.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Proper 'reverse construction' required by the verb.
Comparing 'He likes oranges' to 'Le gustan las naranjas', the roles of subject and object of the respective verbs seem interchanged. 'Naranjas', the subject of 'gustar' corresponds to 'oranges', direct object of 'he likes', 'He', the subject in the latter corresponds to 'le', the indirect object in the former.
Improper passive transformation.
Improper pseudo-passive for 'resultant state condition'.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper use of 'emphatic' indirect object pronoun.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with a 'noun clause' subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with a 'noun clause' subject.
Improper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
Proper agreement of the verb with its grammatical subject.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
We deal here with verbs similar to gustar (to like). This verb requires a construction apparently opposite to its English counterpart and is thus called a 'reverse construction verb'.
The items covered are:
Comparing 'He likes oranges' to 'Le gustan las naranjas', the roles of subject and object of the respective verbs seem interchanged. 'Naranjas', the subject of 'gustar' corresponds to 'oranges', direct object of 'he likes', 'He', the subject in the latter corresponds to 'le', the indirect object in the former.
A partial list of verbs of this type is:
agradar, desagradar, gustar, apetecer, alegrar
concernir, importar, parecer
faltar, quedar, bastar, sobrar, caber
caer, convenir, incumbir, cumplir, corresponder
To this list should added the quite large set of verbs of emotional influence listed under 6). The first set does not admit 'the pseudo-passive of resultant condition' which the latter does.
One source of confusion is the failure to recognize the grammatical subject of the sentence, which has to show agreement with the verb. In the example 'me gustan las naranjas', the subject of the verb 'gustar' is 'naranjas'; the plural 'gustan' indicates agreement with the subject.
Sometimes the subject of the verb can be a 'noun sentence' which is always considered 'third person singular'.
Spanish can focus the attention of the sentence on the indirect object by bringing it to the front and adding an emphatic pronominal form before it. The latter can not stand alone, it can be only in addition to the indirect object.
English reverses the focus of a sentence from the subject to the direct object by switching to the passive construction. The passive is not available for the Spanish verbs we are considering since the objects are indirect objects and passive construction is only allowed for direct objects.
There is a set of Spanish verbs akin to 'reverse construction verbs' admitting a pseudo-passive construction using the verb estar instead of ser. These are the verbs of emotional reaction and the pseudo-passive expresses a 'resultant (emotional) state'. For ex., for aburrir:
'Me aburre la película' -> 'Estoy aburrido por la película'.
The following is a partial list of these verbs:
aburrir, animar, asombrar, asustar, calmar, confundir, conmover, deprimir, desesperar, desilusionar, divertir, encantar, enfadar, enfurecer, enojar, entristecer, entusiasmar, espantar, extrañar, fascinar, ilusionar, inquietar, interesar, irritar, ofender, preocupar, sorprender.
Copyright 1996 Samuel Schiminovich.
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