THE ADJECTIVE.


The position of qualifying adjectives is generally after the noun,
especially

1. Those denoting physical qualities, as--

Un hombre ciego: A blind man.
Una mesa redonda: A round table.
Paño negro:  Black cloth.

2. Those denoting nationality, as--

Quincalla inglesa:  British hardware.

3. Those derived from verbs, as--

Mercancía averiada: Damaged goods.

The above rule is subject to many exceptions for the sake of euphony or
to give more than the ordinary prominence to the adjective or the noun;
however, the following rule will be found a reliable general one, and it
is in fact the informing principle of all special rules given in the
various grammars--

An adjective used as an epithet should precede the noun; if used as a
distinguishing word it should follow.

By an adjective used as an epithet, we mean one calling to mind a
quality known (or supposed) to belong to the noun, as--

No perdió el aliento el valiente general: The brave general did not lose
courage.

By a distinguishing word we mean one used to indicate the quality of a
noun as compared with another of the same species, as--

Quiero comprar maquinaria barata: I wish to buy cheap machinery.

The Partitive Adjectives "some" and "any" are left out in translation
when they do not convey the idea of limited quantity. When they do,
"algún," "un poco de" (sing.), "algunos" and "unos" (pl.) are used.

"Un poco de" and "unos" convey the idea of a more limited quantity or
number than "alguno" and "algunos."

The following few examples are calculated to make it clear as regards
the various shades of meaning--

¿Tiene V. alfombras? Have you any carpets?

Tengo algún azúcar para vender: I have some sugar to sell.

¿Quiere V. un poco de papel? Will you have some paper?

Yo tengo algunas obligaciones: I have some debentures.

He recibido algunos cigarros, le reservaré unas cajas de los mejores: I
received some cigars; I shall reserve for you some boxes of the best
quality.

One adjective preceding two or more nouns agrees in gender and number
with the first only, as--

La nueva caldera y accesorios gustó (or gustaron) mucho al cliente:
The new boiler and accessories pleased the customer very much.

N.B.--If a verb intervenes the adjective is generally plural, and in
case of different genders is pl. masc., as--

Adjuntos remitimos factura y conocimiento: Enclosed we send invoice and
bill of lading.

When the adjective follows two or more nouns, it is put in the plural,
as--

El trigo y el maíz están sostenidos: Wheat and maize are firm.

If the nouns are of different genders, the adjective is pl. masc., as--

El encaje y las guarniciones han salido caros: The lace and trimmings
came out dear.


EXCEPTION--

When all the several nouns preceding the adjective are in the plural,
and all referring to things (not persons), the adjective may be made
to agree in gender with the noun last mentioned, as--

Los tornillos y las tuercas están bien ajustados (or ajustadas): The
screws and nuts are well adjusted. It is better to avoid this
construction

(1) By saying "las tuercas y los tornillos están bien ajustados."

(2) By using an adjective having the same termination for masculine and
feminine.

(3) By giving a different turn to the sentence, as: "Son de buen ajuste".

Adjectives that qualify the fem. nada (nothing) are always used in the
masculine--

Nada bueno espero de él: I expect nothing good from him.

Adjectives referring to titles of individuals are placed in the gender
of the persons bearing those titles, as--

V. (contraction of Vuestra Merced) es muy buen amigo: You are a very
good friend.

Adjectives of colour derived from a noun, as "violeta" (violet), "rosa"
(pink), "chocolate" (chocolate), etc., do not take the mark of the
plural, the words "color de" being understood before them, as--

Guantes crema: Cream gloves.



Valer (to be worth).

Pres. Indic., Valgo.
Fut. Indic., Valdré, valdrás, valdrá, valdremos, valdréis, valdrán.
Imper. Mood, Val or vale....


     VOCABULARY.

aceite oil
aflojar to slacken
ajuste de averia average adjustment
almacenes fiscales bonded ware houses
carne en salmuera pickled beef
comarca region
conceder to grant, to allow
cosecha crop, harvest
cueros hides
exiguo small, insignificant, slender
incluir to include, to enclose
incluso included
incluyendo including
íntegro upright, integer, whole
interino interim
juicioso sensible
linones, olanes lawns
manteca de puerco, lardo lard
pieles skins
productos accesorios by-products
sebo tallow
tarjeta card
tasajo jerked beef
tierno tender
viajante commercial traveller[179]

[Footnote 179: Traveller (passenger, tourist)--Viajero.]


                            EXERCISE 1 (67).

Translate into English--

1. Benéficas lluvias han caído en toda la comarca, y las tiernas plantas
prometen abundante cosecha si siguen favorables las condiciones
climatológicas (climatic).

2. Las compras baratas no resultan siempre lo que se llama "gangas"
(bargains) pues es necesario también que sean de calidad conveniente y
adecuada para el mercado á que se las destine.

3. He recibido una consignación de carne en salmuera, lenguas en latas
(canned tongues), tasajo, sebo, margarina, manteca de puerco (or
lardo), y productos accesorios que espero poder colocar bien.

4. Me enviaron también un poco de aceite de margarina, heces de sebo
(tallow greaves), hueso molido (bone-meal) y tripas de buey (ox casings)
baratas.

5. ¿Ha vendido V. algo de estas?

6. No, pero he vendido un poco de sebo.

7. ¿ No ha recibido V. cueros y pieles?

8. No, estos no pertenecen á mi ramo de negocios (line of business).

9. Ha entrado mucho té este mes en los almacenes fiscales y además algún
café de Costa Rica.

10. La magnífica colección de muestras y tarjetas para reclamo
(advertisement) que nos trajo ese viajante nos han gustado muchísimo.

11. El ajuste de avería y el cheque por la indemnización concedida van
inclusos.

12. Tanto los provechos como las pérdidas son exiguos (or exiguas).

13. No hay nada (de) extraordinario en que afloje el mercado.

14. V. es hombre integro y su Señora es mujer juiciosa.

15. Le tomaré algunas piezas de prueba de estos linones rosa y crema
pero nada de estos estampados chocolate.


                            EXERCISE 2 (68).

Translate into Spanish--

1. We have to acknowledge the receipt of your esteemed letter of the 1st
inst., which brought us £640 on L. & Sons, payable August 10th.

2. Carried forward (á la vuelta). Brought forward (de la vuelta).

3. Brown sugars have been rather brisk for some time (desde algún
tiempo).

4. The manufacturer has discontinued making the old article.

5. The Directors of the Z Company announce an interim (provisorio)
dividend for the first six months of the current year at the rate of 10
per cent. per annum.

6. Reuter's Paris correspondent telegraphs that earnest representations
are being made by the British Chamber of Commerce in Paris to the French
Customs Administration (Administración de Aduanas) concerning the recent
change in the classification of yarns wound on bobbins (en bobinas), a
matter which seriously affects Lancashire interests.

7. The great object (objeto principal) the meeting had in view was the
promotion of further (el abrir nuevas vías al) progress and (y á la)
civilisation. That necessarily implied fewer appeals to the arbitrament
of the sword (que deberían disminuir los casos de apelar á la espada)
and (y ser) more frequent appeals to the remedy of reason.