Esercizio di traduzione intermediate in inglese • 155

Sei in grado tu di rendere la frase di oggi in inglese?

Switch on your English - intermediate.

La traduzione, come metodo di esercizio nell’apprendimento di una lingua, farà sicuramente parte della vecchia scuola, però, inserita in un contesto più vario di apprendimento, soprattutto con feedback in tempo reale, può sempre essere un utile esercizio di allenamento.

Consiglio una partecipazione attiva e visibile postando la tua versione tra i commenti in fondo a questa pagina. In questo modo riceverai un mio commento o suggerimento in tempo più o meno reale. Ma per chi non se la sente, si può semplicemente annotare la propria versione e controllarla attraverso i miei commenti lasciati per gli altri.

Ricorda l’importanza di immaginare un contesto reale nel quale la frase in questione avrebbe senso, prima di procedere con la traduzione.

Ecco la nuova frase:


L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

Buon divertimento!

Puoi esercitarti quanto vuoiQUI.


Your comments are always very welcome.


Unknown's avatar

Author: Tony

Born and raised in Malaysia between Kuala Lumpur and Singapore. Educated at Wycliffe College in Stonehouse, Gloucestershire, England. Living in the foothills of Mount Etna since 1982 and teaching English at Catania University since 1987.

41 thoughts on “Esercizio di traduzione intermediate in inglese • 155”


  1. The last time I had to wait so long for somebody was when Mike was expected to come to Gatwick airport at 19 and we had to wait for him till midnight

    1. Very good, Luca. Well done.

      The only thing I would perhaps change for a slightly more typical version would be:

      was expected to come to ➝ was supposed to arrive at

      🙂

  2. L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

    Last time I waited so long for someone was when Mike was supposed to get to Gatwick airport at 7 p.m. and we had had to wait until about midnight.

    1. Very good, Dany, except that there are too many “had”s in the last part which should just be a present simple.

      1. Last time I waited so long for someone was when Mike was supposed to get to Gatwick airport at 7 p.m. and we had to wait until about midnight.

        Thanks 👍🏻

  3. L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

    The last time i waited so long for someone was when Mike was supposed to arrive at Gatwick airport at 10 and we had to wait until around midnight

  4. L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

    The last time i waited so long for someone was when Mike was due to arrive at Gafwick airport at 10 and we had to wait until almist midnight

    1. Very good, Fede!

      I particularly like “Gafwick”, the time change to “10”, oh, and “almist”! 😂😂😂

  5. Good afternoon prof

    The last time I waited so long for someone was when Mike was supposed tò arrive at Gatwick Airport at 7p.m and we had tò wait until nearly Midnight.


  6. The last time I have been waiting so long for someone was when Mike was supposed to arrive at the Gatwick airport at 7 p.m. and we have to wait until almost midnight.

    1. Hi folks! A good effort.

      The expression “the last time” requires a past simple (narrative). Gatwick airport doesn’t require an article, and in the last part, “have to” should be “had to”. Everything else is fine. 🙂

  7. L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

    So Tony, I want to start with the causative passive structure here, so ” The last time someone kept me waiting for so long was when Mike had to arrive to Gatwick airport by 7 pm and we kept waiting (for him) almost till midnight.”

    1. The problem areas here, Toni, are:

      “had to” (after Mike)
      “to” (after arrive)
      “kept waiting” (abbiamo dovuto)
      “almost till” – till almost

      1. Thanks, Tony; still not awake then. haha I’ll tell ya, at first glance my take was to use “be supposed to” I don’t know why I get lost in the translation process. The irony is that I had just used it on the chat to answer you (what am I supposed to do…?) haha

  8. Thank you very much! I’m very angry with myself because the “wait
    FOR”… Also I’m often wrong with “to” “in” “at”.

    Thanks again!

    Renato

    1. I’m afraid prepositions in general are always a problem, Renato, in particular those verbs which in English have a dependent preposition when the Italian equivalent has no preposition at all: wait FOR; Listen TO; look AT.

      🙂

  9. the last time I’ve been waiting so long for someone was when Mike was supposed to arrive at Gatwick airport at 7pm and we had to wait until almost midnight

    1. All good, Lucia, except for that present perfect continuous. The expression “the last time” requires a past simple (narrative).

      “Was supposed to” is perfect here. 🙂

  10. Hello, Teacher

    L’ultima volta che ho aspettato così a lungo qualcuno è stato quando Mike doveva arrivare all’aeroporto di Gatwick alle 19.00 e abbiamo dovuto aspettare fino a quasi mezzanotte.

    The last time I waited for somebody (for?) so long was when Mike had to get to Gatwick airport at 7 pm and We had to wait almost until midnight

    1. A good effort, Anita.

      In the first part, if you keep that order, then “for” is necessary. The alternative is to invert the order and eliminate one of the “for” prepositions:

      …I waited so long for somebody…

      Can you find a more appropriate expression for that “doveva arrivare”?

      N.B. …to wait until almost midnight.

      1. When you write: “a good effort “, then something’s wrong 😂😂😂

        Should arrive, pehaps?

        Thanks, Tony

  11. Hi prof

    My attempt:

    The last time I have waited for someone so long was when Mike shoud have arrived at the Gatwick airport at 7 p.m and we had to wait until nearly midnight.

    Thank you

    Have a nice weekend

    1. In the first part, the expression “the last time” requires a past simple (narrative). Also, you should put “so long” before “for someone”; it’s a more natural order.

      Can you find a more appropriate expression for that “doveva arrivare”?

      N.B. Gatwick airport (no article).

  12. Last time I have so long waited someone was when Mike was supposed to arrive in Gatwick airport at 7 pm and we had to wait him until almost midnight.

    1. The expression “the last time” requires a past simple and not a present perfect. So:

      The last time I waited so long for someone…

      …to arrive at Gatwick airport…

      …to wait for him…

      Remember: to wait FOR someone/something

      🙂

  13. I last waited for someone so long was when Mike was to arrive at Gatwick airport at 19.00 and we had to wait until was nearly midnight.

    a different start

    The last time I waited …

    1. Very good, Davide.

      The continuation with “was when” obliges you to start with “the last time”, and I would put “so long” before “for someone”.

      Try to find a more suitable formula for “was to” in the middle.

      At the end use either:

      1. until it was nearly midnight
      2. until nearly midnight

      🙂

        1. Yes, that’s one good possibility. The most typical alternative here would probably be “was supposed to arrive”.

          1. yes ,it sounds better…I’ve read it in the comments above but I was courios whether was due to arrive could also fit🤔

  14. The last time / last i waited so long for someone was when mike had to arrive at Gatwick Airport at 7pm and we had to wait until almost midnight

    1. Very good, Giovanna.

      The continuation with “was when” obliges you to start with “the last time”.

      You need to find a better formula for “had to” in the middle…

      🙂

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