lynnxa

actually that's how it was first explained to me when I started learning- over simplified - but nevertheless a useful guide - with the caveat that is actually way more complicated! - but you'll learn as you go along

DebsyW

I was told the same as a child as an easy way to remember. I was told by my dad... who IS spanish.

lynnxa

well you learn something every day

Huevos

So if you say to someone "estás guapa" does it mean this is a one off and they would never look good again? What about these, how would you translate them?

• Where's the wedding.
• Where's the bus station.

Carol&John

Ok, thinking caps ready?
Any information on the origin of this phrase, please:
Ser una autentica pina (tilde over the "n" in pina)
an example: "Este equipo si que es una autentica pina..."
also, "pina va, pina viene".

Does it refer only to sport? As in "to be the best"?
What is the significance of "pina" (pineapple)? Does it have something to do with being hospitable?

Thanks.


Carol

baz259

Hi, my dictionary seems to imply the opposite.
Hoy estoy pina –I’m not having much luck today.
Baz

rachelk

For a place, a bus station, use estar. An event ser.

This reminds me of girl I met in a spanish class, she was very young, married and very in love. She didn't like having to use estar with casado/a - thought it should be ser as it was forever.

Carol&John

Thanks, Baz. "Pina" (aside from pineapple) in my dictionary is also a "punch" or "bash".
So, I'm guessing, this football team isn't doing very well?("Ser" and "estar" trick again)

Carol

Huevos

My point was the quoted rule was wrong. A wedding is a one off but it doesn't use estar.

Casado can be either. Estar casado is a relatively modern construction.

rachelk

Our teacher seemed to think ser casado was a L Am thing but I bow to your superior knowledge.

marisol

Hello Carol,
Piña is pineapple but there are idioms with it:
formar una piña means to rally round, stick together. It's used with people in at any situation (sports, work, family....), when all in your family are very close and have any kind of problem and you all together struggle hard to get on in life, you can say "nosotros formamos una piña" it's just an example.

DebsyW

To tell someone `estas guapa` or `que guapa estas` is `you look pretty... today.` Yes, it is a temporary thing... they could dress like a dog tomorrow and look like a right old hag! (happens to me a lot!)

DebsyW

In this case I would use `estoy casada` as it is not a `permanent` thing in so far as that it could change. (Not for me at the moment I must add!!!........ just in case OH reads this)

Carol&John

Thanks very much, marisol! This makes sense when I look at the team photo.
http://www.publicacionesdelsur.net/s...te/index.shtml


Carol

lynnxa

as a simple rule of thumb when you are first learning spanish it is very useful