The one thing that appears to be missing to a large degree from most of our lives is an awareness of the deeper self. How is it that the members of the one species given this apparent consciousness and self-awareness flit from one idea or task to another throughout the day like bees pollinating snapdragons, driven by useless compulsions, without one deep thought ever coming to mind?
The answer is that it is the default nature of the mind to jump from one task to another, focusing only in time of emergency, and then fixating only on the urgent issue at hand. At a certain level, it's the most efficient use of our intellectual resources. We efficiently classify knowledge, forming patterns that serve us well in most cases by providing default responses to known scenarios. The problem is that in relying so much on default thought patterns, we utilize our intellect barely more than the minimum degree necessary to avoid catastrophe, rarely stepping back to pay attention to the larger story, to the unseen forces and macro patterns operating behind the scenes, including everything that makes you who you are and causes you to do the things you do. Most people live their entire without ever even noticing, never mind addressing, this flaw of ours.
To become increasingly conscious of the authentic self, it's necessary to gradually calm this monkey mind, as it is known in Eastern philosophies. Americans have traditionally been industrious but we work harder than ever in today's economy (those with jobs, at least), and we have all the kids' activities to manage. A lot is expected of us and we're so consumed by the desire to satisfy those expectations that we dedicate almost no time to meditation and contemplation. It's a shame because consciously or not, one of our highest goals is the search for meaning, yet the way we spin so furiously in these hamster wheels we pretty much preclude the possibility of ever realizing that the answer was within ourselves all along.
Learn to meditate. You know how the solution to a complex problem escapes you no matter how diligently you pursue it, and then you go to sleep only to wake up with an answer or have it hit you in the shower? Or how you can't remember a name or a word until you leave it for a while, and then it comes on its own? On a larger scale we need to do a reset from time to time and stop the insanity. The mind is usually so busy that there's no other way to get it to break out of its patterns.
Aside from providing some calmness, a reality-based perspective on life, and a more philosophical approach to stress, quiet contemplation can reveal a layered yet miraculously developed you, deep inside, that you might hardly have been aware of during "the fog of war," when you were distracted by daily goings-on. I won't discuss meditation techniques in this post, and different approaches work for different people, but look into it on your own. Google "how to meditate" or get a book recommended by someone you respect. Progress is slow. It's something you can do for a lifetime without coming to full realization. But after a lifetime, you will certainly have come much closer to full actualization than you would have without it. Think of it as exercise for the soul, like a lifetime of jogging for the spirit. It's not easy, but reaching the end of your days without having met the most important person in your life would be simply tragic.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Spanish Vocabulary 1-31-2010
bondad goodness, kindness
¿Tendría la bondad de cerrar la puerta?
Would you be so kind good as to close the door?
Note how the preposition de is used here.
Tengan la bondad de no fumar. (This is very formal language.)
Kindly refrain from smoking.
Tenga la bondad de pasar. (very polite)
Please be so kind as to come in.
Tuvo la bondad de llamarme.
He was kind enough to call me.
When speaking of the weather, bondad can also mean mildness.
bondadoso kind, kindhearted, kindly
bondadosamente kindly, kindheartedly
bondad (RAE)
Etimología de la palabra bondad.
confiado trusting
Están muy confiados en que vamos a llevarlos.
They are convinced that we are going to take them.
In this sense, confiados means sure.
Está confiada en que podrá cocinarlo.
She's confident that she will be able to cook it.
Note how the conjunction que is used here.
No estén tan confiados.
Don't get over-confident.
Con lo confiado que es le van a engañar muchas veces.
He's such an unsuspecting person that he'll often be misled.
This sentence demonstrates the use of the third person plural in Spanish to represent the figurative they. The literal translation would be He's such an unsuspecting person that they are going to mislead him many times. The practical translation for this common construction is He's such an unsuspecting person that he'll often be misled. Also observe from the previous two examples that the meaning of confiado, confident or trusting, must at times be contextually inferred.
soldadito toy soldiers
soldadito de plomo tin soldier
Quiz: Write the definition(s) for the following vocabulary words. Click the links for answers from WordReference:
amarillento
anudar
asomar
confiar
estremecerse
extrañeza
gorrión
harapo
pañuelo
piar
plomo
reja
sepultura
sien
soldado
soldar
travieso
¿Tendría la bondad de cerrar la puerta?
Would you be so kind good as to close the door?
Note how the preposition de is used here.
Tengan la bondad de no fumar. (This is very formal language.)
Kindly refrain from smoking.
Tenga la bondad de pasar. (very polite)
Please be so kind as to come in.
Tuvo la bondad de llamarme.
He was kind enough to call me.
When speaking of the weather, bondad can also mean mildness.
bondadoso kind, kindhearted, kindly
bondadosamente kindly, kindheartedly
bondad (RAE)
Etimología de la palabra bondad.
confiado trusting
Están muy confiados en que vamos a llevarlos.
They are convinced that we are going to take them.
In this sense, confiados means sure.
Está confiada en que podrá cocinarlo.
She's confident that she will be able to cook it.
Note how the conjunction que is used here.
No estén tan confiados.
Don't get over-confident.
Con lo confiado que es le van a engañar muchas veces.
He's such an unsuspecting person that he'll often be misled.
This sentence demonstrates the use of the third person plural in Spanish to represent the figurative they. The literal translation would be He's such an unsuspecting person that they are going to mislead him many times. The practical translation for this common construction is He's such an unsuspecting person that he'll often be misled. Also observe from the previous two examples that the meaning of confiado, confident or trusting, must at times be contextually inferred.
soldadito toy soldiers
soldadito de plomo tin soldier
Quiz: Write the definition(s) for the following vocabulary words. Click the links for answers from WordReference:
amarillento
anudar
asomar
confiar
estremecerse
extrañeza
gorrión
harapo
pañuelo
piar
plomo
reja
sepultura
sien
soldado
soldar
travieso
Inline Display of CSS Block Elements
As was mentioned in an earlier post, elements are the basis of document structure. There are two element display roles: block-level and inline-level.
In its default state, a block-level element cannot have other elements at its sides. To accomplish this, the user agent generates breaks before and after the element box. An inline-level by definition can have other elements at its sides.
b is an example of an inline element. A content value of One<b>Two</b>Three renders as:
OneTwoThree
p is an example of a block element. A content value of One<p>Two</p>Three renders as:
div is another example of a block element. A content value of One<div>Two</div>Three renders as:
However, the default behavior of both block-level and inline-level elements can be overridden by means of the display property, such that, given the style
.inline
{
display:inline;
}
a content value of One<div class=inline>Two</div>Three renders as:
And given the same style, a content value of One<b class=block>Two</b>Three renders as:
The ability to render the div inline is extraordinarily significant, as it elevates div to the role of default element in an infinite number of layout scenarios.
In its default state, a block-level element cannot have other elements at its sides. To accomplish this, the user agent generates breaks before and after the element box. An inline-level by definition can have other elements at its sides.
b is an example of an inline element. A content value of One<b>Two</b>Three renders as:
OneTwoThree
p is an example of a block element. A content value of One<p>Two</p>Three renders as:
div is another example of a block element. A content value of One<div>Two</div>Three renders as:
However, the default behavior of both block-level and inline-level elements can be overridden by means of the display property, such that, given the style
.inline
{
display:inline;
}
a content value of One<div class=inline>Two</div>Three renders as:
And given the same style, a content value of One<b class=block>Two</b>Three renders as:
The ability to render the div inline is extraordinarily significant, as it elevates div to the role of default element in an infinite number of layout scenarios.
Getting Taller, not Fatter #5
In the previous post, we were dissecting the ChinesePod elementary lesson: Getting Taller (Not Fatter).
Here is our next sentence:
对对对。跟叔叔一样高，跟叔叔一样胖。
Duì duì duì. Gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo, gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng.
duì: correct
gēn: as (compared to)
shūshu: uncle
yīyàng: same
gāo: tall
pàng: fat
Literally: Right, right, right. As Uncle same tall, as Uncle same fat!
That's right, that's right. Just as tall as uncle and just as fat as uncle!
This is a self-deprecating joke by Uncle to little Doudou: Right, you'll be as tall as me, and as fat!
The Chinese often repeat a syllable for emphasis. In this case, Duì duì duì would be similar to someone quickly saying "right, right, right" in English.
Next, we encounter a construction we covered in the previous post:
gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo
as tall as uncle
gēn: as (compared to)
shūshu: uncle
yīyàng: same
gāo: tall
Again, this is an high-frequency construction that means as ??? as ???. In English, we place the adjective first: as fast as Brian, as smart as the teacher, etc. In Mandarin, the person, place, or thing being compared to is placed first, then the adjective.
gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng
as fat as uncle
Reading Quiz
Without reviewing the lesson above, what do the following characters mean?
胖 answer
高 answer
样 answer
一 answer
叔 answer
跟 answer
对 answer
Writing Quiz
Without reviewing the lesson above, write the following characters:
pàng answer
gāo answer
yàng answer
yī answer
shū answer
gēn answer
duì answer
So far we have covered:
豆豆，这是叔叔，快说叔叔好
Dòudou, zhè shì shūshu. Kuài shuō shūshu hǎo.
Doudou, this is Uncle. Hurry up and say hello to Uncle.
叔叔好!
Shūshu hǎo!
Hello, Uncle!
豆豆，真乖！一年没见，长高了很多!
Dòudou, zhēn guāi! ī nián měi jiàn. zhǎng gāo le hěn duō.
Doudou, so well-behaved! I haven't seen you in a year. You've grown taller!
豆豆以后要跟叔叔一样高
Dòudou yǐhòu yào gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo.
Doudou will be as tall as uncle someday.
对对对。跟叔叔一样高，跟叔叔一样胖。
Duì duì duì. Gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo, gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng.
That's right, that's right. Just as tall as uncle and just as fat as uncle!
再 见!（zài jiàn!)
James
Here is our next sentence:
对对对。跟叔叔一样高，跟叔叔一样胖。
Duì duì duì. Gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo, gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng.
duì: correct
gēn: as (compared to)
shūshu: uncle
yīyàng: same
gāo: tall
pàng: fat
Literally: Right, right, right. As Uncle same tall, as Uncle same fat!
That's right, that's right. Just as tall as uncle and just as fat as uncle!
This is a self-deprecating joke by Uncle to little Doudou: Right, you'll be as tall as me, and as fat!
The Chinese often repeat a syllable for emphasis. In this case, Duì duì duì would be similar to someone quickly saying "right, right, right" in English.
Next, we encounter a construction we covered in the previous post:
gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo
as tall as uncle
gēn: as (compared to)
shūshu: uncle
yīyàng: same
gāo: tall
Again, this is an high-frequency construction that means as ??? as ???. In English, we place the adjective first: as fast as Brian, as smart as the teacher, etc. In Mandarin, the person, place, or thing being compared to is placed first, then the adjective.
gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng
as fat as uncle
Reading Quiz
Without reviewing the lesson above, what do the following characters mean?
胖 answer
高 answer
样 answer
一 answer
叔 answer
跟 answer
对 answer
Writing Quiz
Without reviewing the lesson above, write the following characters:
pàng answer
gāo answer
yàng answer
yī answer
shū answer
gēn answer
duì answer
So far we have covered:
豆豆，这是叔叔，快说叔叔好
Dòudou, zhè shì shūshu. Kuài shuō shūshu hǎo.
Doudou, this is Uncle. Hurry up and say hello to Uncle.
叔叔好!
Shūshu hǎo!
Hello, Uncle!
豆豆，真乖！一年没见，长高了很多!
Dòudou, zhēn guāi! ī nián měi jiàn. zhǎng gāo le hěn duō.
Doudou, so well-behaved! I haven't seen you in a year. You've grown taller!
豆豆以后要跟叔叔一样高
Dòudou yǐhòu yào gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo.
Doudou will be as tall as uncle someday.
对对对。跟叔叔一样高，跟叔叔一样胖。
Duì duì duì. Gēn shūshu yīyàng gāo, gēn shūshu yīyàng pàng.
That's right, that's right. Just as tall as uncle and just as fat as uncle!
再 见!（zài jiàn!)
James
Saturday, January 30, 2010
A Short Story: The Visitor
Daddy and I just got back from Agway. We keep the Christmas tree behind the house next to the chimney until we're ready to put it up. I like putting on the tinsel. I love the pine smell. I don't know how the cats can stand the cold. Their metal water dish is frozen. It has dents it it. My dog Sparky is happy to see me. He doesn't seem cold. The Kerosene stove in the kitchen is really warm. Rambling with Gambling is on. Daddy is going to make pancakes. He told me to pick up my toys. Uncle Ken gave me his Lionel train. I play with my dump truck in the sand at Cy Fox's lumber yard. I have bulldozers, too.
--Rachel says I have to eat but I'm not really hungry.
We're going to Nanny's later. Our station wagon is big. Nanny keeps peppermint candies in a metal dish. Her Christmas tree is small. She stays in the chair because her ankles are swollen. Uncle Ray will be there. He reads a lot. I like reading. Dad is done with the wash. He has to empty out the big tub. Now I can have pancakes. We went to Confession last night. I lied three times. I felt like crying for some reason. The manger scene has animals around baby Jesus. The incense smelled nice. Then Mrs. Engeln called so I rode my bike to the bakery to get the leftover bread and donuts again. I had frostbite but I ate two crumb buns on the way home. The river is frozen. They put floodlights on the bridge to light up the falls and the mill wheel.
--I have to go burn the garbage but Rachel keeps trying to feed me these pancakes.
My friend is named Dean. He has a dog called Andy. Dean and Chris and I go camping down the railroad tracks. Chris doesn't have a father. Dad said Dean sweeps the porch better than I do. Dad gets mad a lot but he takes me to work at Mt. Kipp sometimes. The breeze blows through his office even on the warmest days. Our family is different. We stay with Aunt Helen in Lambertville in the summer. Aunt Helen told everyone that Jimmy always comes back from the butcher with the best cut of beef and exactly the correct change. Joey Skillman and I gave a trumpet concert to the family in Nanny's back yard. I played Bridge Over Troubled Water. We charged 25 cents each. I caught a 36-inch carp with Uncle Walt. He told me to set the hook but I didn't know what that meant.
--Rachel says if I don't eat the pancakes then I won't have any more to eat until lunchtime.
Eva, Mary and Ellie are boarders at Mount Saint John's. Johnny and I take the bus. BJT-896 that was our license number. 735-7837 that was our phone. 33½ West Main Street. I called Eva a fucker. Dad told me that I will have a tough row to hoe in life.
I went to high school in Phillipsburg. Dan was my friend. I was shy. Pat was my girlfriend. We both had Mustangs. Mom W came to my graduation at Fort Jackson. That I do remember.
--Rachel is nice but she treats me like a baby.
Cy Fox's lumber yard burned down. Did I tell you that Nanny's in a nursing home? They don't call it a nursing home but everybody knows. Joey Skillman died in a car wreck. 18 years old. Dad had stomach cancer. He wasn't afraid of dying but he worried about us kiddies. I checked his pulse but he was gone. Brian and I carried his body. Chris died, the Viking prince. Prostate cancer. Nanny, too. Aunt Helen. Uncle Ray. Mom W. Uncle Walt. Cool air wafts over the family plot overlooking Lambertville.
Carefree children laughed and ran/with not a burden other than/the nettle's sting or rainy day/a mother's comfort miles away.
This nurse Rachel thinks I don't know where I am. I know exactly where I am. They don't call it a nursing home but everybody knows. I'm sorry for going on and on. Thank you for coming, dear friend. It's just that I'm a little tired at the moment.
--Rachel says I have to eat but I'm not really hungry.
We're going to Nanny's later. Our station wagon is big. Nanny keeps peppermint candies in a metal dish. Her Christmas tree is small. She stays in the chair because her ankles are swollen. Uncle Ray will be there. He reads a lot. I like reading. Dad is done with the wash. He has to empty out the big tub. Now I can have pancakes. We went to Confession last night. I lied three times. I felt like crying for some reason. The manger scene has animals around baby Jesus. The incense smelled nice. Then Mrs. Engeln called so I rode my bike to the bakery to get the leftover bread and donuts again. I had frostbite but I ate two crumb buns on the way home. The river is frozen. They put floodlights on the bridge to light up the falls and the mill wheel.
--I have to go burn the garbage but Rachel keeps trying to feed me these pancakes.
My friend is named Dean. He has a dog called Andy. Dean and Chris and I go camping down the railroad tracks. Chris doesn't have a father. Dad said Dean sweeps the porch better than I do. Dad gets mad a lot but he takes me to work at Mt. Kipp sometimes. The breeze blows through his office even on the warmest days. Our family is different. We stay with Aunt Helen in Lambertville in the summer. Aunt Helen told everyone that Jimmy always comes back from the butcher with the best cut of beef and exactly the correct change. Joey Skillman and I gave a trumpet concert to the family in Nanny's back yard. I played Bridge Over Troubled Water. We charged 25 cents each. I caught a 36-inch carp with Uncle Walt. He told me to set the hook but I didn't know what that meant.
--Rachel says if I don't eat the pancakes then I won't have any more to eat until lunchtime.
Eva, Mary and Ellie are boarders at Mount Saint John's. Johnny and I take the bus. BJT-896 that was our license number. 735-7837 that was our phone. 33½ West Main Street. I called Eva a fucker. Dad told me that I will have a tough row to hoe in life.
I went to high school in Phillipsburg. Dan was my friend. I was shy. Pat was my girlfriend. We both had Mustangs. Mom W came to my graduation at Fort Jackson. That I do remember.
--Rachel is nice but she treats me like a baby.
Cy Fox's lumber yard burned down. Did I tell you that Nanny's in a nursing home? They don't call it a nursing home but everybody knows. Joey Skillman died in a car wreck. 18 years old. Dad had stomach cancer. He wasn't afraid of dying but he worried about us kiddies. I checked his pulse but he was gone. Brian and I carried his body. Chris died, the Viking prince. Prostate cancer. Nanny, too. Aunt Helen. Uncle Ray. Mom W. Uncle Walt. Cool air wafts over the family plot overlooking Lambertville.
Carefree children laughed and ran/with not a burden other than/the nettle's sting or rainy day/a mother's comfort miles away.
This nurse Rachel thinks I don't know where I am. I know exactly where I am. They don't call it a nursing home but everybody knows. I'm sorry for going on and on. Thank you for coming, dear friend. It's just that I'm a little tired at the moment.
Friday, January 29, 2010
CSS Positioning Revisited
A CSS element is the basis of document structure. CSS positioning properties provide for the positioning of an element.
There are four positioning methods:
This syntax declares a style applicable to the element with ID pushdown that causes the element to be rendered 100 pixels from the top of its immediate parent:
<style type="text/css">
#pushdown { position:absolute; top:100px; }
</style>
This syntax declares a style called fixedPosition, applicable only to the <p> tag, that causes the element to be rendered 10 pixels from the top of the browser window:
<style type="text/css">
p.fixedPosition { position:fixed; top:10px; }
</style>
This syntax declares a style called moveRight, applicable only to the <h2> tag, that causes the element to be rendered 20 pixels to the right of the location at which it would have otherwise been presented:
<style type="text/css">
h2.moveRight { position:relative; left:20px; }
</style>
This snippet demonstrates the explicit use of position:static, which is normally the default, to override an existing global <h2> style:
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
h2
{
position:relative;
left:20px;
}
h2.static
{
position:static;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Appears 20px the right</h2>
<h2 class="static">Overrides h2 style</h2>
</body>
</html>
There are four positioning methods:
- Absolute - element is positioned relative to the first parent element
- Fixed - element is positioned relative to the browser window
- Relative - element is positioned relative to its normal position
- Static - element is positioned in its default location
This syntax declares a style applicable to the element with ID pushdown that causes the element to be rendered 100 pixels from the top of its immediate parent:
<style type="text/css">
#pushdown { position:absolute; top:100px; }
</style>
This syntax declares a style called fixedPosition, applicable only to the <p> tag, that causes the element to be rendered 10 pixels from the top of the browser window:
<style type="text/css">
p.fixedPosition { position:fixed; top:10px; }
</style>
This syntax declares a style called moveRight, applicable only to the <h2> tag, that causes the element to be rendered 20 pixels to the right of the location at which it would have otherwise been presented:
<style type="text/css">
h2.moveRight { position:relative; left:20px; }
</style>
This snippet demonstrates the explicit use of position:static, which is normally the default, to override an existing global <h2> style:
<html>
<head>
<style type="text/css">
h2
{
position:relative;
left:20px;
}
h2.static
{
position:static;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h2>Appears 20px the right</h2>
<h2 class="static">Overrides h2 style</h2>
</body>
</html>
The Spanish Subjunctive and Subordinated Adjective Clauses
Examples of the subjunctive with subordinated adjective clauses:
¿Hay una tienda cerca de aquí en que se vendan huevos?
Is there a store nearby that sells eggs?
The present subjunctive form of vender: vendan is used because the independent clause (Is there a store nearby) is in the present and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Prefieren amigos que sepan mucho de la política.
They prefer friends who know a lot about politics.
The present subjunctive form of saber: sepa is used because the independent clause (They prefer friends) is in the present and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Alejandro no pudo hallar una novia que se atreviera a casarse con él.
Alejandro could not find a girlfriend who would dare to marry him.
The imperfect subjunctive form of atreverse: se atreviera is used because the independent clause (Alejandro could not find) is in the preterit and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
José busca una camioneta que no use mucha gasoina.
José is looking for a pick-up truck that doesn't use much gasoline.
The present subjunctive form of user: use is used because the independent clause (Jose is looking for) is in the present indicative tense and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Deseaban hallar un hotel que tuviera una piscina.
They wanted to find a hotel that had a pool.
The imperfect subjunctive form of tener: tuviera is used because the independent clause (They wanted to find a hotel) is in the imperfect and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Necesito recuperarme en un lugar que haga buen tiempo.
I need to recover in a place with nice weather.
The present subjunctive of hace: haga is used because the independent clause (I need to recover) is in the present tense and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Teníamos un perro que tenía ojos de color verde.
We used to have a dog who had green eyes.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. The dependent clause (who had green eyes) refers to a specific dog that certainly existed.
Buscaron al periodista que escribió ese articuló.
They looked for the reporter who wrote that article.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. Someone looked for a specific reporter who certainly existed, the reporter who wrote that article.
Los Marino tenían un retrato que era de sus bisabuelos.
The Marinos had a portrait of their great-grandparents.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. The Marinos had a specific portrait that certainly existed.
¿Hay una tienda cerca de aquí en que se vendan huevos?
Is there a store nearby that sells eggs?
The present subjunctive form of vender: vendan is used because the independent clause (Is there a store nearby) is in the present and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Prefieren amigos que sepan mucho de la política.
They prefer friends who know a lot about politics.
The present subjunctive form of saber: sepa is used because the independent clause (They prefer friends) is in the present and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Alejandro no pudo hallar una novia que se atreviera a casarse con él.
Alejandro could not find a girlfriend who would dare to marry him.
The imperfect subjunctive form of atreverse: se atreviera is used because the independent clause (Alejandro could not find) is in the preterit and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
José busca una camioneta que no use mucha gasoina.
José is looking for a pick-up truck that doesn't use much gasoline.
The present subjunctive form of user: use is used because the independent clause (Jose is looking for) is in the present indicative tense and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Deseaban hallar un hotel que tuviera una piscina.
They wanted to find a hotel that had a pool.
The imperfect subjunctive form of tener: tuviera is used because the independent clause (They wanted to find a hotel) is in the imperfect and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Necesito recuperarme en un lugar que haga buen tiempo.
I need to recover in a place with nice weather.
The present subjunctive of hace: haga is used because the independent clause (I need to recover) is in the present tense and the action in the dependent clause is not specifically prior to the action in the independent clause.
Teníamos un perro que tenía ojos de color verde.
We used to have a dog who had green eyes.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. The dependent clause (who had green eyes) refers to a specific dog that certainly existed.
Buscaron al periodista que escribió ese articuló.
They looked for the reporter who wrote that article.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. Someone looked for a specific reporter who certainly existed, the reporter who wrote that article.
Los Marino tenían un retrato que era de sus bisabuelos.
The Marinos had a portrait of their great-grandparents.
This example is not a candidate for the subjunctive. The Marinos had a specific portrait that certainly existed.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)