Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Spanish Thanks.



Through reading the free Spanish newspapers of the city, I’ve noticed how Spanish uses the infinitive where English uses the gerund, and have even started to imitate that use in conversation, e.g. when I thanked the (younger) (shorter) (round-faced) (Mexican) woman who was the cashier at the cafeteria where I met a friend for Thanksgiving dinner –

!Gracias por trabajar hoy!

- which I hope was correct.

Even if it wasn’t, she lit up and smiled appreciatively, and then at my apology for lack of knowledge and pleasant request taught me how to say “Happy Thanksgiving” in Spanish (‘Feliz dia de accion de gracias’).

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