_Mientras uno es joven, siempre hay esperanza de mejorar la
fortuna._[5]--PALACIO VALDÉS.
=12.= English _long_ is usually rendered =largo=, but in expressions of time
it is often translated =mucho=.
_This is the longest street in the city. We lived here for a long time._
=Esta es la calle más larga de la ciudad. Vivimos aquí por mucho tiempo.=
_I have not seen them for a long time._
=No los he visto desde hace mucho tiempo.=
_Note._--When a phrase expressing duration of time introduced by
_for_ is equivalent to _since ... ago_, _for_ is translated =desde
hace=.
(_a_) The phrase _to be long_ (_in_), followed by a verbal in
_-ing_, expressed or understood, is rendered =tardar= (=en=), followed
by an infinitive expressed or understood.
_Have patience! You will not be long in learning how to do it._
=¡Ten paciencia! No tardarás en aprender a hacerlo.=
_You go now. I will follow.--All right, but don't be long._
=Vete ahora. Yo te seguiré.--Bueno, pero no tardes.=
--PÉREZ GALDÓS.
(_b_) =Tardar en= may also be used to translate the expression _before
long_.
_They will be back before long._
=No tardarán en volver.=
(_c_) The adverbial phrases _no longer_, _any longer_ are translated =ya
no=.
_I wonder why they are so long. I can't wait any longer._
=¿Por qué tardarán tanto? Ya no puedo esperar más.=
(_d_) The conjunctive phrase _as long as is_ rendered =mientras=.
_As long as it was raining we could not go out._
=Mientras llovía no podíamos salir.=
=13.= The word _before_ as an adverb is rendered =antes=; as a conjunction,
=antes que=; as a preposition of time, =antes de=; as a preposition of
place, it is rendered =delante de= or =ante=, the latter being used
especially with the meaning of _in the presence of_.
_I had never done that before._
=No había hecho eso antes.=
_Before he went away he said that he would be back before long._
=Antes que se fué me dijo que no tardaría en volver.=
_Before taking it you ought to have spoken to me._
=Antes de cogerla debió usted hablar conmigo.=
--PÉREZ GALDÓS.
_He wanted to appear before them as a millionaire._
=Quería presentarse delante de ellos como millonario=.
--BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.
_They look at the gypsy who stops before them._
=Miran al húngaro que se para ante ellos.=--MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.
_Note._--=Antes= also translates English _formerly_.
=14.= The verb _to know_, meaning _to be acquainted with_, is =conocer=;
otherwise _to know_ and _to know how_ are rendered =saber=.
_I know the family, but I don't know where they live._
=Conozco a la familia, pero no sé donde viven.=
_I know how to sew, I know how to cook, I know how to wash clothes._
=Yo sé coser, yo sé guisar, yo sé lavar la ropa.=--LOS QUINTERO.
_Note_.--=Conocer= also translates English _to make the acquaintance
of_.
=15.= =EXERCISES=
(_a_) 1. No sé como he vivido tanto tiempo con ellos. 2. ¡Bien ha
tardado Vd. esta noche! 3. ¿Cuánto tiempo espera Vd. pasar aquí? 4.
Dígales que yo quiero verlas antes que salgan. 5. No sé leer el español
pero conozco las obras de Benavente en traducción. 6. No tardamos en
saber lo que había hecho. 7. Antes de escribir los ejercicios tenemos
que estudiar las reglas. 8. Antes era rico, ya no lo es. 9. En el
abecedario viene la _a_ ante la _be_. 10. Puesto que no puedo quedarme
más tiempo, tendrá Vd. que acabarlo solo.
(_b_) 1. Do you know the works of Blasco Ibáñez? 2. How long have you
been here? 3. I don't know how to describe it to you. 4. I don't know
how long he has been ill. 5. Before I speak I want to know how much you
know. 6. Do you know this song? Yes, but I don't know how to sing it. 7.
Before buying the house he told me that he had known the owner for a
long time. 8. Ask him if he knows who has lived in it since. 9. I knew
him before he went to live there. 10. I'm sure I shall see him before
long.