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:
Buon divertimento!
Non crederesti quante volte ho dovuto dirgli di non mettersi in mostra in quel modo davanti ai suoi compagni di scuola. Ora nessuno di loro vuole più giocare con lui.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to tell him not to show off like that in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them want to play with him anymore.
Excellent, Adriana. Well done. 🙂
You would not believe how many times I had to tell him not to show off that manner in front of his classmates. Now none of them want to play anymore with him.
Very good, Renato, but, as I have had to say to almost everybody so far, the clear connection with the present means that the verb “ho dovuto dirgli” (finora) must be a present perfect and not a past simple: “…I’ve had to tell him…”
Also, you should say “in that manner”, but “like that” would be more typical here.
Finally, a small point, I would put “anymore” at the end.
🙂
Thank you, Tony! I was very undecided about the position of “anymore” and, as often happens with Wordle, I made the wrong choice 🙂
If it weren’t for the “with him”, it would be all right. But “with him” must come immediately after the verb. Remember that after a verb, you should always put the most direct object first and leave “time” (in a sense “anymore” is also “time”) at the end.
You would not believe how many times I have had to tell him not to show himself in that way in front of his schoolmates.
Very good, Dany, except that you should say “not to show off in that way”. The reflexive pronoun is understood with the phrasal verb “to show off” and doesn’t get expressed.
BTW – your version is incomplete…
You would not believe how many times I have had to tell him not to show off himself in that way in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them want to play with him.
Good now, Dany, but without “himself”. 🙂
You would not believe how many times I have had to tell him not to show off in that way in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them want to play with him.
“Shoe off” is so reflective that “himself” bounced. Got it
Thanks
😂👍
Hi, teacher. before I submit my translation to your attention, I’d like to point out one of two doubts of mine as follows:
You wouldn’t believe how many times I ( doubt 1: have: up to now reference) had to tell him not to show off in that way in front of his school mates. Now, none of them wants ( doubt 2: want )to play with him any more (longer .)
Two very legitimate doubts, Carla.
In the first case, I would say definitely present perfect as the context makes it very clear that we are talking about an ongoing situation. Above all, that “ora” at the beginning of the second sentence.
In the second case, both interpretations are possible, but I would personally go for the plural form “want” (concordanza a senso), referring more to the idea of a group (loro) than a specific individual (neanche uno).
🙂
Thank u.. You confirm my suppositions. As regards none + plural form , I as I read a lot, I was in two minds about which one to choose, as the grammar prescribes the singular form, but contemporary forms support the + plural choice. I put another question to you concerning out (OF) … With many thanks,. Carla
Carla, I’m not sue what you mean with your final question: out (of). Can you be more specific, perhaps give me an example?
out of the window, for instance, … now, reading contemporary novels, I find lots of “out the window” and similar
The elimination of the second preposition “of” in these cases, probably just a consequence of laziness, is creeping into modern spoken English more and more. Personally, I don’t like it, but as I have always said, “Language is not a science, it is a living organism, subject to the whims and idiosyncrasies of human nature and the mood of the times it lives in.”
You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show off in that way in front of his schoolmates.
Now none of them want to play with him anymore.
THANKS
Very good, folks, but, as I have said to almost everybody today, the clear connection with the present means that the verb “ho dovuto dirgli” (finora) must be a present perfect and not a past simple: “…I’ve had to tell him…”
The rest is all good 🙂
Hi
You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show off in front of his schoolmates in that way.
Now none of them want to play with him anymore
Thank you
Very good, but, as I have said to almost everybody today, the clear connection with the present means that the verb “ho dovuto dirgli” (finora) must be a present perfect and not a past simple: “…I’ve had to tell him…”
The rest is all good 🙂
Good afternoon and have a nice weekend
You wouldn”t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show off in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them want to play with him anymore
Very good, Fede, but, as I have said to almost everybody today, the clear connection with the present means that the verb “ho dovuto dirgli” (finora) must be a present perfect and not a past simple: “…I’ve had to tell him…”
The rest is all good 🙂
Ok it is clear
😀👍
Good afternoon prof,
“You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show off before his schoolmates.Now none of them want to play with him anymore”.
Very good, Roby, but the clear connection with the present means that the verb “ho dovuto dirgli” (finora) must be a present perfect and not a past simple: “…I’ve had to tell him…”
The only other thing I would change is “before”. In this context, I feel that “in front of” would be more appropriate.
🙂
You are perfectly right prof… there Is an obvious time connection!!!
Only Claudio has noticed it so far, so you’re in good company, Roby! 😉
194
Non crederesti quante volte ho dovuto dirgli di non mettersi in mostra in quel modo davanti ai suoi compagni di scuola. Ora nessuno di loro vuole più giocare con lui.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to tell him not to show off that way/like that in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them wants to play with him anymore.
Very good, Claudio.
Bear in mind in the last part that although “wants” is grammatically correct, a native speaker here would be more likely to use the plural form “want” (concordanza a senso) referring more to the idea of a group (loro) than a specific individual (neanche uno).
🙂
Thank you, your explanation is very useful|
My pleasure, Anita! 🙂
Non crederesti quante volte ho dovuto dirgli di non mettersi in mostra in quel modo davanti ai suoi compagni di scuola. Ora nessuno di loro vuole più giocare con lui.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show himself that way in front of his schoolmates. None of them want no longer play with him now.
Firstly, your second verb should really be a present perfect – “I’ve had to tell him…” The problem is clearly ongoing and connects the past with the present.
Secondly, the expression is “to show off” and is naturally reflexive so there’s no need for the reflexive pronoun.
In the last part, you’ve used a double negative. I would suggest finding an alternative to “no longer”.
🙂
Volevo usare “no longer” anche nella traduzione della settimana scorsa (mi piace tantissimo ‘no longer’) ma avevo capito che non ci sarebbe stato, questa volto ho provato a forzarlo pur sapendo che c’era qualcosa che non andava…
Tutto chiaro il resto.
Riproviamo poi andiamo a leggere gli altri studenti!
Grazie Tony
Non crederesti quante volte ho dovuto dirgli di non mettersi in mostra in quel modo davanti ai suoi compagni di scuola. Ora nessuno di loro vuole più giocare con lui.
You wouldn’t believe how many times I’ve had to tell him not to show off that way in front of his schoolmates. Now none of them want to play with him anymore.
That’s perfect now, Paolo. 🙂
Ciao !
You wouldn’t believe (it) how many times I had to tell him not to show off like that in front of his schoolmates.
Now none of them wants to play with him anymore.
Hi Davide.
There’s no need for that (it) after believe since the verb is actually followed by an object clause.
More important is the tense choice for your second verb. As I said to Anita (below), this should really be a present perfect – “I’ve had to tell him…” since the problem is clearly ongoing and connects the past with the present. Lastly, although “wants” is grammatically correct, a native speaker here would be more likely to use the plural form “want” (concordanza a senso) referring more to the idea of a group (loro) than a specific individual (neanche uno).
🙂
Good morning, Teacher,
Non crederesti quante volte ho dovuto dirgli di non mettersi in mostra in quel modo davanti ai suoi compagni di scuola. Ora nessuno di loro vuole più giocare con lui.
You won’t believe how many times I had to tell him not to show himself off that way in front of his schoolmates.
Now none of them wants to play with him anymore
Hi Anita. Your version is perfectly comprehensible but there are a couple of tense problems which need sorting out. Your first verb should really be a conditional – “You wouldn’t believe…” Your second verb should really be a present perfect (this is more important) – “I’ve had to tell him…” The problem is clearly ongoing and connects the past with the present.
Less important, but worth noticing, “himself” is not necessary as the phrasal verb “to show off” is naturally reflexive.
Lastly, although “wants” is grammatically correct, a native speaker here would be more likely to use the plural form “want” (concordanza a senso) referring more to the idea of a group (loro) than a specific individual (neanche uno).
🙂