Перевод: с английского на все языки

со всех языков на английский

in following circumstances

Толкование Перевод

1 in the following circumstances

1) Общая лексика: в следующих случаях (АД)

2) Юридический термин: при следующих обстоятельствах

Универсальный англо-русский словарь > in the following circumstances
2 when

1. adverb
1) (at what time) wann

say when — (coll.): (pouring drink) sag halt

that was when I intervened — das war der Moment, wo ich eingriff

2) (at which)

the time when... — die Zeit, zu der od. (ugs.) wo/(with past tense) als...

the day when... — der Tag, an dem od. (ugs.) wo/(with past tense) als...

do you remember [the time] when we... — erinnerst du dich daran, wie wir...
2. conjunction
1) (at the time that) als; (with present or future tense) wenn

when [I was] young — als ich jung war; in meiner Jugend

when in doubt — im Zweifelsfall

when cleaning the gun — beim Putzen des Gewehrs

when speaking French — wenn ich/sie usw. Französisch spreche/spricht usw.

2) (whereas)

why do you go abroad when it's cheaper here? — warum fährst du ins Ausland, wo es doch hier billiger ist?

I received only £5 when I should have got £10 — ich bekam nur 5 Pfund, hätte aber 10 Pfund bekommen sollen

3) (considering that) wenn

how can I finish it when you won't help? — wie soll ich es fertig machen, wenn du nicht hilfst?

4) (and at that moment) als
3. pronoun
by/till when...? — bis wann...?

from/since when...? — ab/seit wann...?

when are we invited for? — für wann sind wir eingeladen?

but that was yesterday, since when things have changed — aber das war gestern, und inzwischen hat sich manches geändert

* * *
1. [wen] adverb
(at what time(?): When did you arrive?; When will you see her again?; I asked him when the incident had occurred; Tell me when to jump.) wann
2. [wən, wen] conjunction
1) ((at or during) the time at which: It happened when I was abroad; When you see her, give her this message; When I've finished, I'll telephone you.) als; wenn

2) (in spite of the fact that; considering that: Why do you walk when you have a car?) wenn

•

- academic.ru/81941/whence">whence
- whenever
* * *

when

[(h)wen]

I. adv inv

1. interrog (at what time) wann

\when do you want to go? wann möchtest du gehen?

\when's the baby due? wann hat sie Geburtstermin?

do you know \when he'll be back? weißt du, wann er zurückkommt?

to tell sb \when to do sth jdm sagen, wann er/sie etw tun soll

since \when...? seit wann...?

until \when...? wie lange...?

2. interrog (in what circumstances) wann

\when is it OK to cross the road? — when the little green man is lit up wann darf man die Straße überqueren? — wenn das kleine grüne Männchen aufleuchtet

3. rel (in following circumstances) wenn; (at which, on which) wo

when is it OK to cross the road? — \when the little green man is lit up wann darf man die Straße überqueren? — wenn das kleine grüne Männchen aufleuchtet

the week between Christmas and New Year is \when we carry out an inventory in der Woche zwischen Weihnachten und Neujahr machen wir eine Inventur

March is the month \when the monsoon arrives im März kommt der Monsun

this is one of those occasions \when I could wring his neck dies ist eine der Gelegenheiten, wo ich ihm den Hals umdrehen könnte

she was only twenty \when she had her first baby sie war erst zwanzig, als sie das erste Kind bekam

Saturday is the day \when I get my hair done samstags lasse ich mir immer die Haare machen

there are times \when... es gibt Momente [o Augenblicke], wo...

II. conj

1. (at, during the time) als

I used to love that film \when I was a child als Kind liebte ich diesen Film

I loved maths \when I was at school in der Schule liebte ich Mathe

2. (after) wenn

he was quite shocked \when I told him er war ziemlich schockiert, als ich es ihm erzählte

call me \when you've finished ruf mich an, wenn du fertig bist

3. (whenever) wenn

I hate it \when there's no one in the office ich hasse es, wenn niemand im Büro ist

4. (and just then) als

I was just getting into the bath \when the telephone rang ich stieg gerade in die Badewanne, als das Telefon läutete

5. (considering that) wenn

how can you say you don't like something \when you've never even tried it? wie kannst du sagen, dass du etwas nicht magst, wenn du es nie probiert hast?

6. (although) obwohl

I don't understand how he can say that everything's fine \when it's so obvious that it's not ich verstehe nicht, wie er sagen kann, dass alles in Ordnung ist, wenn doch offensichtlich was nicht stimmt

* * *
[wen]
1. adv

1) (= at what time) wann

since when have you been here? — seit wann sind Sie hier?

... since when he has been here —... und seitdem ist er hier

say when! (inf) — sag or schrei (inf) halt!

2)

(rel) on the day when — an dem Tag, an dem or als or da (liter) or wo (inf)

at the time when — zu der Zeit, zu der or als or da (liter) or wo (inf)

he wrote last week, up till when I had heard nothing from him — er schrieb letzte Woche und bis dahin hatte ich nichts von ihm gehört

in 1960, up till when he... —

during the time when he was in Germany — während der Zeit, als or wo or die (inf) er in Deutschland war

2. conj

1) wenn; (with past reference) als

you can go when I have finished — du kannst gehen, sobald or wenn ich fertig bin

he did it when young — er tat es in seiner Jugend

2) (+gerund) beim; (= at or during which time) wobei

when operating the machine — beim Benutzen or bei Benutzung der Maschine

be careful when crossing the road — seien Sie beim Überqueren der Straße vorsichtig, seien Sie vorsichtig, wenn Sie über die Straße gehen

the PM is coming here in May, when he will... — der Premier kommt im Mai hierher und wird dann...

3) (= although, whereas) wo... doch

why do you do it that way when it would be much easier like this? — warum machst du es denn auf die Art, wo es doch so viel einfacher wäre?

* * *

when [wen; hwen]

A adv

1. (fragend) wann:

when did it happen?;

when ever → whenever B

2. (relativ) als, wo, da:

the day when der Tag, an dem oder als;

the time when it happened die Zeit, in oder zu der es geschah;

the years when we were poor die Jahre, als wir arm waren;

there are occasions when es gibt Gelegenheiten, wo

B konj

1. wann:

she doesn’t know when to be silent

2. (damals, zu der Zeit oder in dem Augenblick,) als:

when (he was) young, he lived in M.;

we were about to start when it began to rain wir wollten gerade fortgehen, als es zu regnen anfing oder da fing es zu regnen an;

he broke a leg when skiing er brach sich beim Skifahren ein Bein;

say when umg sag Halt!, sag, wenn du genug hast! (besonders beim Einschenken)

3. (dann,) wenn:

when it is very cold, you like to stay at home wenn es sehr kalt ist, bleibt man gern(e) zu Hause;

when due bei Fälligkeit

4. (immer) wenn, sobald, sooft:

come when you please

5. (ausrufend) wenn:

when I think what I have done for her! wenn ich daran denke, was ich für sie getan habe!

6. woraufhin, und dann:

we explained it to him, when he at once consented

7. während, obwohl, wo … (doch), da … doch:

why did you tell her, when you knew it would hurt her? warum hast du es ihr gesagt, wo du (doch) wusstest, es würde ihr wehtun?

C pron

1. wann, welche Zeit:

from when does it date? aus welcher Zeit stammt es?

2. (relativ) welcher Zeitpunkt, wann:

they left us on Wednesday, since when we have heard nothing sie verließen uns am Mittwoch, und seitdem haben wir nichts mehr von ihnen gehört;

till when und bis dahin

D s meist pl Wann n:

the whens and wheres of sth das Wann und Wo einer Sache

* * *
1. adverb
1) (at what time) wann

say when — (coll.): (pouring drink) sag halt

that was when I intervened — das war der Moment, wo ich eingriff

2) (at which)

the time when... — die Zeit, zu der od. (ugs.) wo/(with past tense) als...

the day when... — der Tag, an dem od. (ugs.) wo/(with past tense) als...

do you remember [the time] when we... — erinnerst du dich daran, wie wir...
2. conjunction
1) (at the time that) als; (with present or future tense) wenn

when [I was] young — als ich jung war; in meiner Jugend

when in doubt — im Zweifelsfall

when cleaning the gun — beim Putzen des Gewehrs

when speaking French — wenn ich/sie usw. Französisch spreche/spricht usw.

2) (whereas)

why do you go abroad when it's cheaper here? — warum fährst du ins Ausland, wo es doch hier billiger ist?

I received only £5 when I should have got £10 — ich bekam nur 5 Pfund, hätte aber 10 Pfund bekommen sollen

3) (considering that) wenn

how can I finish it when you won't help? — wie soll ich es fertig machen, wenn du nicht hilfst?

4) (and at that moment) als
3. pronoun
by/till when...? — bis wann...?

from/since when...? — ab/seit wann...?

when are we invited for? — für wann sind wir eingeladen?

but that was yesterday, since when things have changed — aber das war gestern, und inzwischen hat sich manches geändert

* * *

adv.

als adv.

sobald adv.

wann adv.

wenn adv.

während adv.

English-german dictionary > when
3 when

[(h)wen] adv

inv

1) interrogative ( at what time) wann;

\when do you want to go? wann möchtest du gehen?;

\when's the baby due? wann hat sie Geburtstermin?;

do you know \when he'll be back? weißt du, wann er zurückkommt?;

to tell sb \when to do sth jdm sagen, wann er/sie etw tun soll;

since \when...? seit wann...?;

until \when...? wie lange...?

2) interrogative ( in what circumstances) wann;

\when is it OK to cross the road? - when the little green man is lit up wann darf man die Straße überqueren? - wenn das kleine grüne Männchen aufleuchtet

3) relative ( in following circumstances) wenn;

(at which, on which) wo;

when is it OK to cross the road? - \when the little green man is lit up wann darf man die Straße überqueren? - wenn das kleine grüne Männchen aufleuchtet;

the week between Christmas and New Year is \when we carry out an inventory in der Woche zwischen Weihnachten und Neujahr machen wir eine Inventur;

March is the month \when the monsoon arrives im März kommt der Monsun;

this is one of those occasions \when I could wring his neck dies ist eine der Gelegenheiten, wo ich ihm den Hals umdrehen könnte;

she was only twenty \when she had her first baby sie war erst zwanzig, als sie das erste Kind bekam;

Saturday is the day \when I get my hair done samstags lasse ich mir immer die Haare machen;

there are times \when... es gibt Momente [o Augenblicke], wo... conj

1) (at, during the time) als;

I used to love that film \when I was a child als Kind liebte ich diesen Film;

I loved maths \when I was at school in der Schule liebte ich Mathe

2) ( after) wenn;

he was quite shocked \when I told him er war ziemlich schockiert, als ich es ihm erzählte;

call me \when you've finished ruf mich an, wenn du fertig bist

3) ( whenever) wenn;

I hate it \when there's no one in the office ich hasse es, wenn niemand im Büro ist

4) ( and just then) als;

I was just getting into the bath \when the telephone rang ich stieg gerade in die Badewanne, als das Telefon läutete

5) ( considering that) wenn;

how can you say you don't like something \when you've never even tried it? wie kannst du sagen, dass du etwas nicht magst, wenn du es nie probiert hast?

6) ( although) obwohl;

I don't understand how he can say that everything's fine \when it's so obvious that it's not ich verstehe nicht, wie er sagen kann, dass alles in Ordnung ist, wenn doch offensichtlich was nicht stimmt

English-German students dictionary > when
4 viral marketing

Mktg

the rapid spread of a message about a new product or service, in a similar way to the spread of a virus. Viral marketing can be by word of mouth, but it is particularly common on the Internet, where messages can be spread easily and quickly to reach millions of people. Products can become household names in this way with very little advertising expenditure.

Viral marketing works well in the following circumstances: when a product is genuinely new and different, and it is something that opinion leaders want to associate with; when the benefits of the product are real; when the product is relevant to a large number of people, and the benefits are easy to communicate.

Some viral marketing campaigns use an incentive-based approach, rewarding people if, for example, they inform their friends and a percentage of these friends make a purchase. Because the Internet is perceived as an information resource, it is also useful to publish on a Web site information that users are allowed to quote and redistribute, perhaps by means of an “e-mail-to-a-friend” button. Linking is also an effective viral marketing tool, as is the provision of free products or services. The Hotmail free e-mail service, for example, grew quickly with little marketing investment.

The ultimate business dictionary > viral marketing
5 be

'bi: ɡi:
( abbreviation) (Bachelor of Engineering; first degree in Engineering.) licenciatura en Ingeniería

be vb

1. ser

Michael is very tall Michael es muy alto

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal Lisboa es la capital de Portugal

sugar is sweet el azúcar es dulce

Napoleon was Corsican Napoleón era corso

my father is an architect mi padre es arquitecto

my mother is from Bristol mi madre es de Bristol

what time is it? It's 3 o'clock ¿qué hora es? Son las tres

June 17th is Elena's birthday el 17 de junio es el cumpleaños de Elena

who is it? It's me ¿quién es? Soy yo

this exercise is difficult este ejercicio es difícil

the house was built 50 years ago la casa fue construida hace 50 años

he was attacked by a dog le atacó un perro

2. estar

how are you? I'm fine ¿cómo estás? estoy bien

David is very happy David está muy contento

I'm tired estoy cansado

his wife's pregnant su mujer está embarazada

we were worried about you estábamos preocupados por ti

where is Pauline? ¿dónde está Pauline?

the milk is on the table la leche está en la mesa

how far is it? ¿a qué distancia está?

what day is it today? ¿qué día es hoy? / ¿a qué día estamos?

3. tener

how old are you? I'm 16 ¿cuántos años tienes? tengo 16 años

I'm cold tengo frío

she's hungry tiene hambre

you're right tienes razón

4. costar / valer / ser

how much is it? ¿cuánto cuesta? / ¿cuánto vale? / ¿cuánto es?

the tickets are £15 each las entradas valen 15 libras cada una

5. hacer

it's sunny hace sol

it's hot hace calor

it was cold hacía frío

6. haber

there are a lot of people hay mucha gente

how many children are there? ¿cuántos niños hay?

there was an explosion hubo una explosión

El pasado de be es was o were y el participio pasado es been; el gerundio se escribe being

Se usa también para construir el tiempo verbal llamado present continuous que indica una acción que está pasando en estos momentos

what are you doing? ¿qué estás haciendo? / ¿qué haces?

I'm reading a magazine estoy leyendo una revista

look, it's snowing mira, está nevando

be sustantivo femenino: name of the letter b, often called be largaor grande to distinguish it from v 'be' also found in these entries: Spanish: A - abasto - abate - abismo - abotargarse - abreviar - abrirse - absoluta - absoluto - abultar - abundar - aburrir - aburrirse - acabose - acariciar - acaso - acertar - achantarse - acometer - acostada - acostado - acostumbrar - acostumbrada - acostumbrado - acreditar - activa - activo - adelantar - adelantarse - adentro - adivinarse - admirarse - adolecer - aferrarse - afianzarse - aficionada - aficionado - afligirse - agonizar - agotarse - agradecer - agua - ahogarse - ahora - aire - ajo - ala - alarmarse - alcanzar - alegrarse English: aback - abate - about - absent - accordance - account for - accountable - accustom - acquaint - action - addicted - address - adequate - adjust - admit - affiliated - afford - afraid - agenda - agree - agreement - ahead - air - airsick - alert - alive - alone - along - aloof - alphabetically - always - am - ambition - amenable - amusing - anathema - annoyance - anomaly - anxious - apologetic - appal - appall - are - arm - around - arrears - as - ashamed - aspire - assert

be

tr[biː]

intransitive verb (pres 1ª pers am, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl are, 3ª pers sing is; pt 1ª y 3ª pers sing was, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl; pp been)

1 (permanent characteristic) ser

■ she's clever es inteligente

■ he's blind es ciego

■ I'm deaf soy sordo

2 (essential quality) ser

■ diamonds are hard los diamantes son duros

3 (nationality) ser

■ John's English John es inglés

■ they are Japanese son japoneses

4 (occupation) ser

■ he's an engineer es ingeniero

■ we are both teachers los dos somos profesores

5 (origin) ser

■ they are from York son de York

6 (ownership) ser

■ it's my pencil es mi lápiz

7 (authorship) ser

■ this painting is by Botero este cuadro es de Botero

8 (composition) ser

■ this cupboard is oak este armario es de roble

9 (use) ser

■ this product is for tiles este producto es para baldosas

10 (location) estar

■ Whitby is on the coast Whitby está en la costa

11 (temporary state) estar

■ your supper's cold tu cena está fría

■ how are you? ¿cómo estás?

■ you're a bit deaf today estás un poco sordo hoy

■ prawns are cheap today las gambas están bien de precio hoy

12 (age) tener

■ Philip is 22 Philip tiene 22 años

13 (price) costar, valer

■ a single ticket is £9.50 un billete de ida cuesta £9.50

14 tener

■ he's hot/cold tiene calor/frío

■ we're hungry/thirsty tenemos hambre/sed

■ she's in a hurry tiene prisa

■ he's right tiene razón

auxiliar be + pres part

1 (action in progress or near future) estar

■ it is raining está lloviendo

■ he's working está trabajando

■ the train is coming viene el tren

■ I am going on Thursday iré el jueves

■ she's meeting Mr Broddle tomorrow se reunirá con el señor Broddle mañana

auxiliar to be + past participle

1 (passive) ser

■ she was arrested at the border fue detenida en la frontera, la detuvieron en la frontera

■ he's hated by everybody es odiado por todos, todos lo odian

■ he was discharged fue dado de alta, lo dieron de alta

■ the house has been sold la casa ha sido vendida, la casa se ha vendido, han vendido la casa

■ he was given a clock le dieron un reloj

■ thirty children were injured treinta niños fueron heridos, treinta niños resultaron heridos

■ the two areas of the town are divided by a wall las dos zonas de la ciudad están divididas por un muro

auxiliar be + to + inf

1 (obligation) deber, tener que

■ you are not to come here again no debes volver aquí

■ you are to do as I say tienes que hacer lo que yo te diga

1 (future)

■ the King is to visit Egypt el Rey visitará Egipto

phrase there is / there are

1 hay

■ there's some wine in the bottle hay algo de vino en la botella

■ there are two policemen following us hay dos policías que nos siguen

■ is there much traffic ¿hay mucho tráfico?

1 había

■ there was no money no había dinero

■ there were twenty five candles on the cake había veinticinco velas en la tarta

■ were there many people? ¿había mucha gente?

phrase there will be

1 habrá

■ there will be snow in the mountains habrá nieve en las montañas

phrase there would be

1 habría

■ there would be time to see the castle habría tiempo para ver el castillo

■ if Mike came, there would be ten of us si viniera Mike, seríamos diez

\

SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALL

to be about to «+ inf» estar para + inf, estar a punto de + inf

■ the train is about to arrive el tren está a punto de llegar

to be or not to be ser o no ser

be ['bi:] v, was ['wəz, 'wɑz] ; were ['wər] ; been ['bɪn] ; being ; am ['æm] ; is ['ɪz] ; are ['ɑr] vi

1) (expressing equality) : ser

José is a doctor: José es doctor

I'm Ana's sister: soy la hermana de Ana

2) (expressing quality) : ser

the tree is tall: el árbol es alto

you're silly!: ¡eres tonto!

3) (expressing origin or possession) : ser

she's from Managua: es de Managua

it's mine: es mío

4) (expressing location) : estar

my mother is at home: mi madre está en casa

the cups are on the table: las tazas están en la mesa

5) (expressing existence) : ser, existir

to be or not to be: ser, o no ser

I think, therefore I am: pienso, luego existo

6) (expressing a state of being) : estar, tener

how are you?: ¿cómo estás?

I'm cold: tengo frío

she's 10 years old: tiene 10 años

they're both sick: están enfermos los dos

be v impers

1) (indicating time) : ser

it's eight o'clock: son las ocho

it's Friday: hoy es viernes

2) (indicating a condition) : hacer, estar

it's sunny: hace sol

it's very dark outside: está bien oscuro afuera

be v aux

1) (expressing progression) : estar

what are you doing? -I'm working: ¿qué haces? -estoy trabajando

2) (expressing occurrence) : ser

it was finished yesterday: fue acabado ayer, se acabó ayer

it was cooked in the oven: se cocinó en el horno

3) (expressing possibility) : poderse

can she be trusted?: ¿se puede confiar en ella?

4) (expressing obligation) : deber

you are to stay here: debes quedarte aquí

he was to come yesterday: se esperaba que viniese ayer

be

v.

(§ p.,p.p.: was, were, been) = estar v.

(§pres: estoy, estás...) pret: estuv-•)

• ser v.

(§pres: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son) subj: se-

imp: er-

pret

fu-•)

biːˌ weak form bi
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

[biː] (present am, is or are pt was or were pp been)
1. INTRANSITIVE VERB

1) (linking nouns, noun phrases, pronouns) ser

he's a pianist — es pianista

he wants to be a doctor — quiere ser médico

Monday's a holiday — el lunes es fiesta

two and two are four — dos y dos son cuatro

it's me! — ¡soy yo!

it was me — fui yo

who wants to be Hamlet? — ¿quién quiere hacer de or ser Hamlet?

you be the patient and I'll be the doctor — tú eres el enfermo y yo seré el médico

if I were you... — yo en tu lugar..., yo que tú... *

2) (possession) ser

she's his sister — es su hermana

it's mine — es mío

3) (characteristics seen as inherent) ser

the sky is blue — el cielo es azul

it's (made of) plastic — es de plástico

they're English — son ingleses

he's tall — es alto

it's round/enormous — es redondo/enorme

she is boring — es aburrida

I used to be poor but now I'm rich — antes era pobre pero ahora soy rico

if I were rich — si fuera rico

I'm from the south — soy del sur

the book is in French — el libro es en francés
Use [estar] with past participles used as adjectives describing the results of an action or process:
it's broken — está roto

he's dead — está muerto

4) (changeable or temporary state) estar

it's dirty — está sucio

she's bored/ill — está aburrida/enferma

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?, ¿qué tal estás?

how are you now? — ¿qué tal te encuentras ahora?

I'm very well, thanks — estoy muy bien, gracias
In certain expressions where English uses [be] + adjective to describe feelings ([be cold]/[hot]/[hungry]/[thirsty]), Spanish uses [tener] with a noun:
I'm cold/hot — tengo frío/calor

my feet are cold — tengo los pies fríos

I'm hungry/thirsty — tengo hambre/sed

be good! — ¡pórtate bien!

you're late — llegas tarde
afraid, sleepy, right
5) (age)

"how old is she?" - "she's nine" — -¿cuántos años tiene? -tiene nueve años

she will be two tomorrow — mañana cumple dos años

when I'm old — cuando sea viejo

when I was young — cuando era joven

6) (=take place) ser

the meeting's today — la reunión es hoy

the service will be at St Ninian's Church — el oficio será en la iglesia de San Ninian

7) (=be situated) estar

Edinburgh is in Scotland — Edimburgo está en Escocia

it's on the table — está sobre or en la mesa

where is the Town Hall? — ¿dónde está or queda el ayuntamiento?

it's 5 km to the village — el pueblo está or queda a 5 kilómetros

he won't be here tomorrow — mañana no estará aquí

we've been here for ages — hace mucho tiempo que estamos aquí, llevamos aquí mucho tiempo, estamos aquí desde hace mucho tiempo

• here you are(, take it) — aquí tienes(, tómalo)

• there's the church — ahí está la iglesia

8) (impersonal use)

a) (referring to weather) hacer

it's hot/cold — hace calor/frío

it's too hot — hace demasiado calor

it's fine — hace buen tiempo

b) (referring to time, date etc) ser

it's eight o'clock — son las ocho

it's morning in New York now — en Nueva York ahora es por la mañana

wake up, it's morning — despierta, es de día

what's the date (today)? — ¿qué fecha es hoy?

it's 3 May or the 3rd of May — es 3 de mayo

it's Thursday today — hoy es jueves
But note the following alternatives with [estar]:
it's 3 May or the 3rd of May — estamos a 3 de mayo

it's Thursday today — hoy estamos a jueves

c) (asking and giving opinion) ser

is it certain that...? — ¿es verdad or cierto que...?

it is easy to make a mistake — es fácil cometer un fallo

is it fair that she should be punished while...? — ¿es justo que se la castigue mientras que...?

it is possible that he'll come — es posible que venga, puede (ser) que venga

it is impossible to study all the time — es imposible estar siempre estudiando

it is unbelievable that... — es increíble que...

it's not clear whether... — no está claro si...

it would be wrong for us to do that — no estaría bien que nosotros hiciésemos eso

d) (emphatic) ser

it's me who does all the work — soy yo quien hace todo el trabajo

it was Peter who phoned — fue Peter quien llamó

why is it that she's so successful? — ¿cómo es que tiene tanto éxito?, ¿por qué tiene tanto éxito?

it was then that... — fue entonces cuando...

9) (=exist) haber

there is/are — hay

what is (there) in that room? — ¿qué hay en esa habitación?

there is nothing more beautiful — no hay nada más bello

is there anyone at home? — ¿hay alguien en casa?

there were six road accidents here last year — el año pasado hubo seis accidentes de tráfico aquí

there must be an explanation — debe de haber una explicación

there being no alternative solution... — al no haber or no habiendo otra solución...

let there be light! — ¡hágase la luz!

there are three of us — somos tres

there were three of them — eran tres

after the shop there's the bus station — después de la tienda está la estación de autobuses

See:

THERE IS, THERE ARE in there

10) (=cost)

how much was it? — ¿cuánto costó?

the book is £20 — el libro vale or cuesta 20 libras

how much is it? — ¿cuánto es?; (when paying) ¿qué le debo? frm

11) (=visit)

has the postman been? — ¿ha venido el cartero?

he has been and gone — vino y se fue

I have been to see my aunt — he ido a ver a mi tía

have you ever been to Glasgow? — ¿has estado en Glasgow alguna vez?

I've been to China — he estado en China

12) (in noun compounds) futuro

• mother to be — futura madre or mamá f

• my wife to be — mi futura esposa

13) (in set expressions)

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

• been and * —

you've been and done it now! — ¡buena la has hecho! *

that dog of yours has been and dug up my flowers! — ¡tu perro ha ido y me ha destrozado las flores!

• you're busy enough as it is — estás bastante ocupado ya con lo que tienes, ya tienes suficiente trabajo

as things are — tal como están las cosas

be that as it may — sea como fuere

• if it hadn't been for..., if it hadn't been for you or frm had it not been for you, we would have lost — si no hubiera sido por ti or de no haber sido por ti, habríamos perdido

• let me be! — ¡déjame en paz!

• if that's what you want to do, then so be it — si eso es lo que quieres hacer, adelante

• what is it to you? * — ¿a ti qué te importa?

• what's it to be? — (in bar etc) ¿qué va a ser?, ¿qué vas a tomar?

2. AUXILIARY VERB

1) (forming passive) ser

the house was destroyed by an earthquake — la casa fue destruida por un terremoto
The passive is not used as often in Spanish as in English, active and reflexive constructions often being preferred:
the box had been opened — habían abierto la caja

these cars are produced in Spain — estos coches se fabrican en España

it is said that... — dicen que..., se dice que...

he was killed by a terrorist — lo mató un terrorista

she was killed in a car crash — murió en un accidente de coche, resultó muerta en un accidente de coche frm

what's to be done? — ¿qué hay que hacer?

• it's a film not to be missed — es una película que no hay que perderse

• we searched everywhere for him, but he was nowhere to be seen — lo buscamos por todas partes pero no lo encontramos en ningún sitio

2) (forming continuous) estar

it's raining — está lloviendo

what are you doing? — ¿qué estás haciendo?, ¿qué haces?

don't distract me when I'm driving — no me distraigas cuando estoy conduciendo

he's always grumbling — siempre está quejándose

he was studying until the early hours — estuvo estudiando hasta la madrugada
Use the present simple to talk about planned future events and the construction to talk about intention:
they're coming tomorrow — vienen mañana

"it's a pity you aren't coming with us" - "but I am coming!" — -¡qué pena que no vengas con nosotros! -¡sí que voy!

will you be seeing her tomorrow? — ¿la verás or la vas a ver mañana?

will you be needing more? — ¿vas a necesitar más?

I shall be seeing him — voy a verlo

I'll be seeing you — hasta luego, nos vemos (esp LAm)
The imperfect tense can be used for continuous action in the past:
he was driving too fast — conducía demasiado rápido
for, since
3) (verb substitute)

a)

he's older than you are — es mayor que tú

he isn't as happy as he was — no está tan contento como antes

"he's going to complain about you" - "oh, is he?" — -va a quejarse de ti -¿ah, sí?

"I'm worried" - "so am I" — -estoy preocupado -yo también

"I'm not ready" - "neither am I" — -no estoy listo -yo tampoco

"you're tired" - "no, I'm not" — -estás cansado -no, ¡qué va!

"you're not eating enough" - "yes I am" — -no comes lo suficiente -que sí

"they're getting married" - "oh, are they?" — (showing surprise) -se casan -¿ah, sí? or -¡no me digas!

"he isn't very happy" - "oh, isn't he?" — -no está muy contento -¿ah, no?

"he's always late, isn't he?" - "yes, he is" — -siempre llega tarde, ¿verdad? -(pues) sí

"is it what you expected?" - "no, it isn't" — -¿es esto lo que esperabas? -(pues) no

"she's pretty" - "no, she isn't" — -es guapa -¡qué va!

b) (in question tags)

he's handsome, isn't he? — es guapo, ¿verdad?, es guapo, ¿no?, es guapo, ¿no es cierto?

it was fun, wasn't it? — fue divertido, ¿verdad?, fue divertido, ¿no?

she wasn't happy, was she? — no era feliz, ¿verdad?

so he's back again, is he? — así que ha vuelto, ¿eh?

you're not ill, are you? — ¿no estarás enfermo?

3. MODAL VERB
(with infinitive construction)
1) (=must, have to)

you're to put on your shoes — tienes que ponerte los zapatos

he's not to open it — no debe abrirlo, que no lo abra

I am to do it — he de hacerlo yo, soy yo el que debe hacerlo

I am not to speak to him — no tengo permiso para hablar con él

I wasn't to tell you his name — no podía or debía decirte su nombre

2) (=should) deber

he is to be congratulated on his work — debemos felicitarlo por su trabajo

am I to understand that...? — ¿debo entender que...?

she wrote "My Life", not to be confused with Bernstein's book of the same name — escribió "Mi Vida", que no debe confundirse con la obra de Bernstein que lleva el mismo título

he was to have come yesterday — tenía que or debía haber venido ayer

he is to be pitied — es digno de lástima

3) (=will)

the talks are to start tomorrow — las conversaciones darán comienzo mañana

her house is to be sold — su casa se pondrá a la venta

they are to be married in the summer — se casarán en el verano

4) (=can)

these birds are to be found all over the world — estos pájaros se encuentran por todo el mundo

little traffic was to be seen — había poco tráfico

you weren't to know — no tenías por qué saberlo

5) (expressing destiny)

this was to have serious repercussions — esto iba a tener serias repercusiones

they were never to return — jamás regresaron

it was not to be — no quiso el destino que así fuera

6) (in conditional sentences)

you must work harder if you are to succeed — debes esforzarte más si quieres triunfar

if it was or were to snow... — si nevase or nevara...

if I were to leave the job, would you replace me? — si yo dejara el puesto, ¿me sustituirías?
BE
"Ser" or "estar"?
You can use "ser": ► when defining or identifying by linking two nouns or noun phrases:
Paris is the capital of France París es la capital de Francia
He was the most hated man in the village Era el hombre más odiado del pueblo ► to describe essential or inherent characteristics (e.g. colour, material, nationality, race, shape, size {etc}):
His mother is German Su madre es alemana
She was blonde Era rubia ► with most impersonal expressions not involving past participles:
It is important to be on time Es importante llegar a tiempo
Está claro que is an exception:
It is obvious you don't understand Está claro que no lo entiendes ► when telling the time or talking about time or age:
It is ten o'clock Son las diez
It's very late. Let's go home Es muy tarde. Vamos a casa
He lived in the country when he was young Vivió en el campo cuando era joven ► to indicate possession or duty:
It's mine Es mío
This is your responsibility Este asunto es responsabilidad tuya ► with events in the sense of "take place":
The 1992 Olympic Games were in Barcelona Los Juegos Olímpicos de 1992 fueron en Barcelona
"Where is the exam?" - "It's in Room 1" "¿Dónde es el examen?" - "Es en el Aula Número 1" NOTE: Compare this usage with that of estar (see below) to talk about location of places, objects and people.
You can use "estar": ► to talk about location of places, objects and people:
"Where is Zaragoza?" - "It's in Spain" "¿Dónde está Zaragoza?" - "Está en España"
Your glasses are on the bedside table Tus gafas están en la mesilla de noche NOTE: But use ser with events in the sense of "take place" (see above)}. ► to talk about changeable state, condition or mood:
The teacher is ill La profesora está enferma
The coffee's cold El café está frío
How happy I am! ¡Qué contento estoy! NOTE: Feliz, however, which is seen as more permanent than contento, is used mainly with ser. ► to form progressive tenses:
We're having lunch. Is it ok if I call you later? Estamos comiendo. Te llamaré luego, ¿vale?
Both "ser" and "estar" can be used with past participles ► Use ser in {passive} constructions:
This play was written by Lorca Esta obra fue escrita por Lorca
He was shot dead (by a terrorist group) Fue asesinado a tiros (por un grupo terrorista) NOTE: The passive is not used as often in Spanish as it is in English. ► Use estar with past participles to describe the {results} of a previous action or event:
We threw them away because they were broken Los tiramos a la basura porque estaban rotos
He's dead Está muerto ► Compare the use of ser + ((past participle)) which describes {action} and estar + ((past participle)) which describes {result} in the following:
The window was broken by the firemen La ventana fue rota por los bomberos
The window was broken La ventana estaba rota
It was painted around 1925 Fue pintado hacia 1925
The floor is painted a dark colour El suelo está pintado de color oscuro ► Ser and estar are both used in impersonal expressions with past participles. As above, the use of ser implies {action} while the use of estar implies {result}:
It is understood that the work was never finished Es sabido que el trabajo nunca se llegó a terminar
It is a proven fact that vaccinations save many lives Está demostrado que las vacunas salvan muchas vidas
"Ser" and "estar" with adjectives ► Some adjectives can be used with both ser and estar but the meaning changes completely depending on the verb:
He's clever Es listo
Are you ready? ¿Estás listo?
Chemistry is boring La química es aburrida
I'm bored Estoy aburrido ► Other adjectives can also be used with both verbs but the use of ser describes a {characteristic} while the use of estar implies a {change}:
He's very handsome Es muy guapo
You look great in that dress! Estás muy guapa con ese vestido
He's slim Es delgado
You're (looking) very slim ¡Estás muy delgada! For further uses and examples, see main entry
* * *
[biːˌ] weak form [bi]
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

English-spanish dictionary > be
6 Colours

Not all English colour terms have a single exact equivalent in French: for instance, in some circumstances brown is marron, in others brun. If in doubt, look the word up in the dictionary.

Colour terms

what colour is it?

= c’est de quelle couleur? or (more formally) de quelle couleur est-il?

it’s green

= il est vert or elle est verte

to paint sth green

= peindre qch en vert

to dye sth green

= teindre qch en vert

to wear green

= porter du vert

dressed in green

= habillé de vert

Colour nouns are all masculine in French:

I like green

= j’aime le vert

I prefer blue

= je préfère le bleu

red suits her

= le rouge lui va bien

it’s a pretty yellow!

= c’est un joli jaune!

have you got it in white?

= est-ce que vous l’avez en blanc?

a pretty shade of blue

= un joli ton de bleu

it was a dreadful green

= c’était un vert affreux

a range of greens

= une gamme de verts

Most adjectives of colour agree with the noun they modify:

a blue coat

= un manteau bleu

a blue dress

= une robe bleue

blue clothes

= des vêtements bleus

Some that don’t agree are explained below.

Words that are not true adjectives

Some words that translate English adjectives are really nouns in French, and so don’t show agreement:

a brown shoe

= une chaussure marron

orange tablecloths

= des nappes fpl orange

hazel eyes

= des yeux mpl noisette

Other French words like this include: cerise ( cherry-red), chocolat ( chocolate-brown) and émeraude ( emerald-green).

Shades of colour

Expressions like pale blue, dark green or light yellow are also invariable in French and show no agreement:

a pale blue shirt

= une chemise bleu pâle

dark green blankets

= des couvertures fpl vert foncé

a light yellow tie

= une cravate jaune clair

bright yellow socks

= des chaussettes fpl jaune vif

French can also use the colour nouns here: instead of une chemise bleu pâle you could say une chemise d’un bleu pâle ; and similarly des couvertures d’un vert foncé (etc). The nouns in French are normally used to translate English adjectives of this type ending in -er and -est:

a darker blue

= un bleu plus foncé

the dress was a darker blue

= la robe était d’un bleu plus foncé

Similarly:

a lighter blue

= un bleu plus clair (etc.)

In the following examples, blue stands for most basic colour terms:

pale blue

= bleu pâle

light blue

= bleu clair

bright blue

= bleu vif

dark blue

= bleu foncé

deep blue

= bleu profond

strong blue

= bleu soutenu

Other types of compound in French are also invariable, and do not agree with their nouns:

a navy-blue jacket

= une veste bleu marine

These compounds include: bleu ciel ( sky-blue), vert pomme ( apple-green), bleu nuit ( midnight-blue), rouge sang ( blood-red) etc. However, all English compounds do not translate directly into French. If in doubt, check in the dictionary.

French compounds consisting of two colour terms linked with a hyphen are also invariable:

a blue-black material

= une étoffe bleu-noir

a greenish-blue cup

= une tasse bleu-vert

a greeny-yellow dress

= une robe vert-jaune

English uses the ending -ish, or sometimes -y, to show that something is approximately a certain colour, e.g. a reddish hat or a greenish paint. The French equivalent is -âtre:

blue-ish

= bleuâtre

greenish or greeny

= verdâtre

greyish

= grisâtre

reddish

= rougeâtre

yellowish or yellowy

= jaunâtre

etc.

Other similar French words are rosâtre, noirâtre and blanchâtre. Note however that these words are often rather negative in French. It is better not to use them if you want to be complimentary about something. Use instead tirant sur le rouge/jaune etc.

To describe a special colour, English can add -coloured to a noun such as raspberry (framboise) or flesh (chair). Note how this is said in French, where the two-word compound with couleur is invariable, and, unlike English, never has a hyphen:

a chocolate-coloured skirt

= une jupe couleur chocolat

raspberry-coloured fabric

= du tissu couleur framboise

flesh-coloured tights

= un collant couleur chair

Colour verbs

English makes some colour verbs by adding -en (e.g. blacken). Similarly French has some verbs in -ir made from colour terms:

to blacken

= noircir

to redden

= rougir

to whiten

= blanchir

The other French colour terms that behave like this are: bleu (bleuir), jaune (jaunir), rose (rosir) and vert (verdir). It is always safe, however, to use devenir, thus:

to turn purple

= devenir violet

Describing people

Note the use of the definite article in the following:

to have black hair

= avoir les cheveux noirs

to have blue eyes

= avoir les yeux bleus

Note the use of à in the following:

a girl with blue eyes

= une jeune fille aux yeux bleus

the man with black hair

= l’homme aux cheveux noirs

Not all colours have direct equivalents in French. The following words are used for describing the colour of someone’s hair (note that les cheveux is plural in French):

fair

= blond

dark

= brun

blonde or blond

= blond

brown

= châtain inv

red

= roux

black

= noir

grey

= gris

white

= blanc

Check other terms such as yellow, ginger, auburn, mousey etc. in the dictionary.

Note these nouns in French:

a fair-haired man

= un blond

a fair-haired woman

= une blonde

a dark-haired man

= un brun

a dark-haired woman

= une brune

The following words are useful for describing the colour of someone’s eyes:

blue

= bleu

light blue

= bleu clair inv

light brown

= marron clair inv

brown

= marron inv

hazel

= noisette inv

green

= vert

grey

= gris

greyish-green

= gris-vert inv

dark

= noir

Big English-French dictionary > Colours
7 BE

'bi: ɡi:
( abbreviation) (Bachelor of Engineering; first degree in Engineering.) licenciatura en Ingeniería

be vb

1. ser

Michael is very tall Michael es muy alto

Lisbon is the capital of Portugal Lisboa es la capital de Portugal

sugar is sweet el azúcar es dulce

Napoleon was Corsican Napoleón era corso

my father is an architect mi padre es arquitecto

my mother is from Bristol mi madre es de Bristol

what time is it? It's 3 o'clock ¿qué hora es? Son las tres

June 17th is Elena's birthday el 17 de junio es el cumpleaños de Elena

who is it? It's me ¿quién es? Soy yo

this exercise is difficult este ejercicio es difícil

the house was built 50 years ago la casa fue construida hace 50 años

he was attacked by a dog le atacó un perro

2. estar

how are you? I'm fine ¿cómo estás? estoy bien

David is very happy David está muy contento

I'm tired estoy cansado

his wife's pregnant su mujer está embarazada

we were worried about you estábamos preocupados por ti

where is Pauline? ¿dónde está Pauline?

the milk is on the table la leche está en la mesa

how far is it? ¿a qué distancia está?

what day is it today? ¿qué día es hoy? / ¿a qué día estamos?

3. tener

how old are you? I'm 16 ¿cuántos años tienes? tengo 16 años

I'm cold tengo frío

she's hungry tiene hambre

you're right tienes razón

4. costar / valer / ser

how much is it? ¿cuánto cuesta? / ¿cuánto vale? / ¿cuánto es?

the tickets are £15 each las entradas valen 15 libras cada una

5. hacer

it's sunny hace sol

it's hot hace calor

it was cold hacía frío

6. haber

there are a lot of people hay mucha gente

how many children are there? ¿cuántos niños hay?

there was an explosion hubo una explosión

El pasado de be es was o were y el participio pasado es been; el gerundio se escribe being

Se usa también para construir el tiempo verbal llamado present continuous que indica una acción que está pasando en estos momentos

what are you doing? ¿qué estás haciendo? / ¿qué haces?

I'm reading a magazine estoy leyendo una revista

look, it's snowing mira, está nevando

be sustantivo femenino: name of the letter b, often called be largaor grande to distinguish it from v 'be' also found in these entries: Spanish: A - abasto - abate - abismo - abotargarse - abreviar - abrirse - absoluta - absoluto - abultar - abundar - aburrir - aburrirse - acabose - acariciar - acaso - acertar - achantarse - acometer - acostada - acostado - acostumbrar - acostumbrada - acostumbrado - acreditar - activa - activo - adelantar - adelantarse - adentro - adivinarse - admirarse - adolecer - aferrarse - afianzarse - aficionada - aficionado - afligirse - agonizar - agotarse - agradecer - agua - ahogarse - ahora - aire - ajo - ala - alarmarse - alcanzar - alegrarse English: aback - abate - about - absent - accordance - account for - accountable - accustom - acquaint - action - addicted - address - adequate - adjust - admit - affiliated - afford - afraid - agenda - agree - agreement - ahead - air - airsick - alert - alive - alone - along - aloof - alphabetically - always - am - ambition - amenable - amusing - anathema - annoyance - anomaly - anxious - apologetic - appal - appall - are - arm - around - arrears - as - ashamed - aspire - assert

be

tr[biː]

intransitive verb (pres 1ª pers am, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl are, 3ª pers sing is; pt 1ª y 3ª pers sing was, 2ª pers sing y todas del pl; pp been)

1 (permanent characteristic) ser

■ she's clever es inteligente

■ he's blind es ciego

■ I'm deaf soy sordo

2 (essential quality) ser

■ diamonds are hard los diamantes son duros

3 (nationality) ser

■ John's English John es inglés

■ they are Japanese son japoneses

4 (occupation) ser

■ he's an engineer es ingeniero

■ we are both teachers los dos somos profesores

5 (origin) ser

■ they are from York son de York

6 (ownership) ser

■ it's my pencil es mi lápiz

7 (authorship) ser

■ this painting is by Botero este cuadro es de Botero

8 (composition) ser

■ this cupboard is oak este armario es de roble

9 (use) ser

■ this product is for tiles este producto es para baldosas

10 (location) estar

■ Whitby is on the coast Whitby está en la costa

11 (temporary state) estar

■ your supper's cold tu cena está fría

■ how are you? ¿cómo estás?

■ you're a bit deaf today estás un poco sordo hoy

■ prawns are cheap today las gambas están bien de precio hoy

12 (age) tener

■ Philip is 22 Philip tiene 22 años

13 (price) costar, valer

■ a single ticket is £9.50 un billete de ida cuesta £9.50

14 tener

■ he's hot/cold tiene calor/frío

■ we're hungry/thirsty tenemos hambre/sed

■ she's in a hurry tiene prisa

■ he's right tiene razón

auxiliar be + pres part

1 (action in progress or near future) estar

■ it is raining está lloviendo

■ he's working está trabajando

■ the train is coming viene el tren

■ I am going on Thursday iré el jueves

■ she's meeting Mr Broddle tomorrow se reunirá con el señor Broddle mañana

auxiliar to be + past participle

1 (passive) ser

■ she was arrested at the border fue detenida en la frontera, la detuvieron en la frontera

■ he's hated by everybody es odiado por todos, todos lo odian

■ he was discharged fue dado de alta, lo dieron de alta

■ the house has been sold la casa ha sido vendida, la casa se ha vendido, han vendido la casa

■ he was given a clock le dieron un reloj

■ thirty children were injured treinta niños fueron heridos, treinta niños resultaron heridos

■ the two areas of the town are divided by a wall las dos zonas de la ciudad están divididas por un muro

auxiliar be + to + inf

1 (obligation) deber, tener que

■ you are not to come here again no debes volver aquí

■ you are to do as I say tienes que hacer lo que yo te diga

1 (future)

■ the King is to visit Egypt el Rey visitará Egipto

phrase there is / there are

1 hay

■ there's some wine in the bottle hay algo de vino en la botella

■ there are two policemen following us hay dos policías que nos siguen

■ is there much traffic ¿hay mucho tráfico?

1 había

■ there was no money no había dinero

■ there were twenty five candles on the cake había veinticinco velas en la tarta

■ were there many people? ¿había mucha gente?

phrase there will be

1 habrá

■ there will be snow in the mountains habrá nieve en las montañas

phrase there would be

1 habría

■ there would be time to see the castle habría tiempo para ver el castillo

■ if Mike came, there would be ten of us si viniera Mike, seríamos diez

\

SMALLIDIOMATIC EXPRESSION/SMALL

to be about to «+ inf» estar para + inf, estar a punto de + inf

■ the train is about to arrive el tren está a punto de llegar

to be or not to be ser o no ser

be ['bi:] v, was ['wəz, 'wɑz] ; were ['wər] ; been ['bɪn] ; being ; am ['æm] ; is ['ɪz] ; are ['ɑr] vi

1) (expressing equality) : ser

José is a doctor: José es doctor

I'm Ana's sister: soy la hermana de Ana

2) (expressing quality) : ser

the tree is tall: el árbol es alto

you're silly!: ¡eres tonto!

3) (expressing origin or possession) : ser

she's from Managua: es de Managua

it's mine: es mío

4) (expressing location) : estar

my mother is at home: mi madre está en casa

the cups are on the table: las tazas están en la mesa

5) (expressing existence) : ser, existir

to be or not to be: ser, o no ser

I think, therefore I am: pienso, luego existo

6) (expressing a state of being) : estar, tener

how are you?: ¿cómo estás?

I'm cold: tengo frío

she's 10 years old: tiene 10 años

they're both sick: están enfermos los dos

be v impers

1) (indicating time) : ser

it's eight o'clock: son las ocho

it's Friday: hoy es viernes

2) (indicating a condition) : hacer, estar

it's sunny: hace sol

it's very dark outside: está bien oscuro afuera

be v aux

1) (expressing progression) : estar

what are you doing? -I'm working: ¿qué haces? -estoy trabajando

2) (expressing occurrence) : ser

it was finished yesterday: fue acabado ayer, se acabó ayer

it was cooked in the oven: se cocinó en el horno

3) (expressing possibility) : poderse

can she be trusted?: ¿se puede confiar en ella?

4) (expressing obligation) : deber

you are to stay here: debes quedarte aquí

he was to come yesterday: se esperaba que viniese ayer

be

v.

(§ p.,p.p.: was, were, been) = estar v.

(§pres: estoy, estás...) pret: estuv-•)

• ser v.

(§pres: soy, eres, es, somos, sois, son) subj: se-

imp: er-

pret

fu-•)

biːˌ weak form bi
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

N ABBR
(Econ) = bill of exchange L/C
* * *
[biːˌ] weak form [bi]
1.

1) (pres am, are, is; past was, were; past p been) intransitive verb [See notes at ser and estar]

Sense I

2)

a) (followed by an adjective)

she's French/intelligent — es francesa/inteligente

he's worried/furious — está preocupado/furioso

he's blind — es or (Esp tb) está ciego

he's short and fat — es bajo y gordo

he's so fat he can't get into his clothes any more — está tan gordo que ya no le cabe la ropa

these shoes are new — estos zapatos son nuevos

have you never had gazpacho? it's delicious! — ¿nunca has comido gazpacho? es delicioso!

the gazpacho is delicious, did you make it yourself? — el gazpacho está delicioso ¿lo hiciste tú?

she was very rude to me — estuvo or fue muy grosera conmigo

she's very rude — es muy grosera

be good — sé bueno

don't be silly! — no seas tonto!

b) ( talking about marital status)

Tony is married/divorced/single — Tony está or (esp AmL) es casado/divorciado/soltero

to be married to somebody — estar* casado con alguien

we've been married for eight years — llevamos ocho años casados

3)

a) (followed by a noun) ser*

she's a lawyer — es abogada

he's a Catholic — es católico

she was Prime Minister for 11 years — fue Primera Ministra durante 11 años

who was Prime Minister at the time? — ¿quién era Primer Ministro en ese momento?

it's me/Daniel — soy yo/es Daniel

if I were you, I'd stay — yo que tú or yo en tu lugar me quedaría

b) ( play the role of) hacer* de

I was Juliet in the school play — hice de Julieta en la obra del colegio

4)

a) ( talking about mental and physical states)

how are you? — ¿cómo estás?

I'm much better — estoy or me encuentro mucho mejor

she's pregnant/tired — está embarazada/cansada

I'm cold/hot/hungry/thirsty/sleepy — tengo frío/calor/hambre/sed/sueño

she has been ill — ha estado enferma

he's dead — está muerto

b) ( talking about age) tener*

how old are you? — ¿cuántos años tienes?

I'm 31 — tengo 31 años

Paul was four last Monday — Paul cumplió cuatro años el lunes pasado

he's a lot older/younger — es mucho mayor/menor

our house is over 100 years old — nuestra casa tiene más de 100 años

c) (giving cost, measurement, weight)

how much is that? - that'll be $15, please — ¿cuánto es? - (son) 15 dólares, por favor

they are $15 each — cuestan or valen 15 dólares cada una

two plus two is four — dos más dos son cuatro

how tall/heavy is he? — ¿cuánto mide/pesa?

Jim's over six feet (tall) — Jim mide más de seis pies

Sense II

5)

a) (exist, live)

I think, therefore I am — pienso, luego existo

to be or not to be — ser o no ser

to let something/somebody be — dejar tranquilo or en paz algo/a alguien

her husband-to-be — su futuro marido

b) ( in expressions of time)

don't be too long — no tardes mucho, no (te) demores mucho (esp AmL)

I'm drying my hair, I won't be long — me estoy secando el pelo, enseguida estoy

how long will dinner be? — ¿cuánto falta para la cena?

c) ( take place) ser*

the party is tomorrow — la fiesta es mañana

6) (be situated, present) estar*

where is the library? — ¿dónde está or queda la biblioteca?

where are you? — ¿dónde estás?

what's in that box? — ¿qué hay en esa caja?

who's in the movie? — ¿quién actúa or trabaja en la película?

he's here for two weeks — va a estar aquí dos semanas

how long are you in Chicago (for)? — (colloq) ¿cuánto (tiempo) te vas a quedar en Chicago ?

7) (only in perfect tenses) ( visit) estar*

I've never been to India — nunca he estado en la India

have you been to the exhibition yet? — ¿ya has estado en or has ido a la exposición?

2.

v impers

1)

a) (talking about physical conditions, circumstances)

it's sunny/cold/hot — hace sol/frío/calor

it's cloudy — está nublado

it was three degrees below zero — hacía tres grados bajo cero

it's so noisy/quiet in here! — qué ruido/silencio hay aquí!

I have enough problems as it is, without you... — yo ya tengo suficientes problemas sin que tú encima...

b) ( in expressions of time) ser*

it's three o'clock — son las tres

it's one o'clock — es la una

it was still very early — todavía era muy temprano

it's Wednesday today — hoy es miércoles

hi, Joe, it's been a long time — qué tal, Joe, tanto tiempo (sin verte)

c) ( talking about distance) estar*

it's 500 miles from here to Detroit — Detroit queda or está a 500 millas de aquí

2)

a) (introducing person, object) ser*

it was me who told them — fui yo quien se lo dije or dijo, fui yo el que se lo dije or dijo

b) (in conditional use) ser*

if it hadn't been o had it not been for Juan, we would have been killed — si no hubiera sido por Juan or de no ser por Juan, nos habríamos matado

3.

v aux

1) to be -ing

a) ( used to describe action in progress) estar* + ger

what was I saying? — ¿qué estaba diciendo?

she was leaving when... — se iba cuando...

how long have you been waiting? — ¿cuánto (tiempo) hace que esperas?, ¿cuánto (tiempo) llevas esperando?

b) ( with future reference)

he is o will be arriving tomorrow — llega mañana

when are you seeing her? — ¿cuándo la vas a ver or la verás?

she'll be staying at the Plaza — se va a alojar en el Plaza

2) (in the passive voice) ser* [The passive voice, however, is less common in Spanish than it is in English]

it was built in 1903 — fue construido en 1903, se construyó en 1903, lo construyeron en 1903

she was told that... — le dijeron or se le dijo que...

it is known that... — se sabe que...

3) to be to + inf

a) ( with future reference)

I'm to be met at the airport by Joe — Joe me irá a buscar al aeropuerto

the dessert is (still) to come — todavía falta el postre

if a solution is to be found... — si se quiere encontrar or si se ha de encontrar una solución...

b) ( expressing possibility)

what are we to do? — ¿qué podemos hacer?

he wasn't to know — no tenía cómo saberlo

it was nowhere to be found — no se lo pudo encontrar por ninguna parte

c) ( expressing obligation) deber* + inf, tener* que + inf, haber* de + inf

tell her she's to stay here — dile que debe quedarse or tiene que quedarse aquí, dile que se quede aquí

you are not to tell Carol! — no debes decírselo a Carol!

am I to understand that... ? — ¿debo entender que... ?

I'm not to be disturbed! — que nadie me moleste!

4) ( in hypotheses)

what would happen if she were o was to die? — ¿qué pasaría si ella muriera?

5)

a) (in tag questions)

she's right, isn't she? — tiene razón, ¿no? or ¿verdad? or ¿no es cierto?

so that's what you think, is it? — de manera que eso es lo que piensas

b) (in elliptical uses)

are you disappointed? - yes, I am/no, I'm not — ¿estás desilusionado? - sí (, lo estoy)/no (, no lo estoy)

she was told the news, and so was he/but I wasn't — a ella le dieron la noticia, y también a él/pero a mí no

I'm surprised, are/aren't you? — estoy sorprendido, ¿y tú?/¿tú no?

English-spanish dictionary > BE
8 with

with [wɪð, wɪθ]

preposition

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► When with is part of a set combination, eg good with, agree with, look up the other word.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

   a. avec

• come with me! viens avec moi !

• he had an argument with his brother il s'est disputé avec son frère

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► The pronoun is not translated in the following, where it and them refer to things.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• he's gone off with it il est parti avec

• these gloves, I can't drive with them on ces gants-là, je ne peux pas conduire avec

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

► Note the verbal construction in the following example.

━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━

• she had her umbrella with her elle avait emporté son parapluie

► to be with sb être avec qn ; ( = understand) suivre qn

• I'm with you ( = understand) je vous suis

• sorry, I'm not with you désolé, je ne vous suis pas

• I'll be with you in a minute ( = attend to) je suis à vous dans une minute

• I'm with you all the way ( = support) je suis à fond avec vous► to be with it (inf) ( = fashionable) être dans le vent (inf)

► to get with it (inf)

get with it! ( = pay attention) réveille-toi !, secoue-toi ! ; ( = face facts) redescends sur terre !

   b. ( = on one's person) sur

• I haven't got any money with me je n'ai pas d'argent sur moi

   c. ( = in the house of, working with) chez

• she was staying with friends elle habitait chez des amis

• he lives with his aunt il habite avec sa tante

• he's with IBM il travaille chez IBM

• a scientist with ICI un chercheur de ICI

• I've been with this company for seven years cela fait sept ans que je travaille pour cette société

   d. (in descriptions = that has, that have) the man with the beard l'homme à la barbe

• the boy with brown eyes le garçon aux yeux marron

• I want a coat with a fur collar je veux un manteau avec un col de fourrure

• passengers with tickets voyageurs mpl munis de billets

• patients with cancer les personnes atteintes d'un cancer

   e. (cause) de

• she was sick with fear elle était malade de peur

• the hills are white with snow les montagnes sont blanches de neige

   f. ( = in spite of) malgré

• with all his intelligence, he still doesn't understand malgré toute son intelligence, il ne comprend toujours pas

   g. (manner) avec

• he did it with great care il l'a fait avec beaucoup de précautions

• I'll do it with pleasure je le ferai avec plaisir

• I found the street with no trouble at all je n'ai eu aucun mal à trouver la rue

• with my whole heart de tout mon cœur

   h. (circumstances) with these words he left us sur ces mots, il nous a quittés

• with the approach of winter à l'approche de l'hiver

• with so much happening it was difficult to... il se passait tellement de choses qu'il était difficile de...

► with that

• with that, he closed the door sur ce, il a fermé la porte

* * *
[wɪð, wɪθ]
Note: If you have any doubts about how to translate a phrase or expression beginning with with ( with a vengeance, with all my heart, with a bit of luck, with my blessing etc) you should consult the appropriate noun entry (vengeance, heart, luck, blessing etc)

with is often used after verbs in English ( dispense with, part with, get on with etc). For translations, consult the appropriate verb entry (dispense, part, get etc)

This dictionary contains usage notes on such topics as the human body and illnesses, aches and pains which use the preposition with. For the index to these notes

For further uses of with, see the entry below

1) ( in descriptions)

a girl with black hair — une fille aux cheveux noirs

the boy with the broken leg — le garçon à la jambe cassée

a boy with a broken leg — un garçon avec une jambe cassée

a dress with a large collar — une robe avec un large col

a TV with remote control — une télévision avec télécommande

furnished with antiques — décoré avec des meubles anciens

covered with mud — couvert de boue

wet with dew — couvert de rosée

to lie with one's eyes closed — être allongé les yeux fermés

filled with — rempli de

2) (involving, concerning) avec

a treaty/a discussion with somebody — un traité/une discussion avec quelqu'un

3) ( indicating an agent) avec

to hit somebody with something — frapper quelqu'un avec quelque chose

to walk with a stick — marcher avec une canne

to cut something with a penknife — couper quelque chose avec un canif

4) (indicating manner, attitude)

with difficulty/pleasure — avec difficulté/plaisir

to be patient with somebody — être patient avec quelqu'un

‘OK,’ he said with a smile/sigh — ‘d'accord,’ a-t-il dit en souriant/soupirant

delighted with something — ravi de quelque chose

5) ( according to)

to increase with time — augmenter avec le temps

to expand with heat — se dilater sous l'action de la chaleur

to vary with the temperature — varier selon la température

6) (accompanied by, in the presence of) avec

to travel with somebody — voyager avec quelqu'un

bring a friend with you — viens avec un ami

she's got her brother with her — ( on one occasion) elle est avec or accompagnée de son frère; ( staying with her) son frère est chez elle

to live with somebody — ( in one's own house) vivre avec quelqu'un; ( in their house) vivre chez quelqu'un

I'll be with you in a second — je suis à vous dans un instant

take your umbrella with you — emporte ton parapluie

7) (owning, bringing)

passengers with tickets — les passagers munis de billets

people with qualifications — les gens qualifiés

somebody with your experience — quelqu'un qui a ton expérience

have you got the report with you? — est-ce que tu as (amené) le rapport?

8) (in relation to, as regards)

the frontier with Belgium — la frontière avec la Belgique

how are things with you? — comment ça va?

what's up with Amy? —

what's with Amy? — US qu'est-ce qui ne va pas avec Amy?

what do you want with another car? — qu'est-ce que tu veux faire d'une deuxième voiture?

it's a habit with her — c'est une habitude chez elle

9) (showing consent, support)

I'm with you on this matter — je suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi là-dessus

I'm with you 100% ou all the way — je suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi

10) ( because of)

sick with worry — malade or mort d'inquiétude

to blush with embarrassment — rougir d'embarras

I can't do it with you watching — je ne peux pas le faire si tu me regardes

with summer coming — avec l'été qui approche

11) ( remaining)

with only two days to go before the election — alors qu'il ne reste plus que deux jours avant les élections

12) ( suffering from)

people with Aids/leukemia — les personnes atteintes du sida/de la leucémie

to be ill with flu — avoir la grippe

to be in bed with chickenpox — être au lit avec la varicelle

13) ( in the care or charge of)

you're safe with us — tu es en sécurité avec nous

the blame lies with him — c'est de sa faute

14) ( against) avec

the war with Germany — la guerre avec l'Allemagne

to be in competition with somebody — être en concurrence avec quelqu'un

15) ( showing simultaneity)

with the approach of spring — à l'approche du printemps

with the introduction of the reforms — avec l'introduction des nouvelles réformes

with that, he left — sur ce, il est parti

16) (employed by, customer of)

a reporter with the Gazette — un journaliste de la Gazette

he's with the UN — il travaille pour l'ONU

we're with the National Bank — nous sommes à la National Bank

17) ( in the same direction as)

to sail with the wind — naviguer dans le sens du vent

to drift with the tide — dériver avec le courant

••

to be with it — (colloq) ( on the ball) être dégourdi; ( trendy) être dans le vent

I'm not really with it today — (colloq) j'ai l'esprit ailleurs aujourd'hui

get with it! — (colloq) ( wake up) réveille-toi!; ( face the facts) redescends sur terre!

I'm not with you, can you repeat? — je ne te suis pas, tu peux répéter?

English-French dictionary > with
9 Christian Democratic Party

(CDS) / Centro Democrático E Social; renamed Popular Party ( Partido Popular / PP)

   Established originally as the Centro Democático e Social (CDS) in May 1974, following the fall of the Estado Novo, the CDS was supported by conservatives inspired by Christian humanism and Catholic social doctrines. In the first democratic elections after the Revolution of 25 April 1974, which were held on 25 April 1975, the CDS won only a disappointing 7.6 percent of the vote for the Constituent Assembly. In the following general elections for the Assembly of the Republic, in April 1976, however, the party more than doubled its votes to 16 percent and surpassed the number of votes for the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP). In 1979-80, the Christian Democrats joined the Social Democratic Party (PSD) in a coalition called the Aliança Democrática (Democratic Alliance), a grouping that defeated the Socialist Party (PS) in the succeeding elections. The Christian Democrats remained in the background as the principal party rivals for power were the PS and the PSD.

   In the 1990s, the CDS altered its name to the Partido Popular (PP) and featured new leaders such as party chief Paulo Portas. While the democratic Portuguese system had become virtually a two-party dominant system by the 1980s and 1990s, the PP would have opportunities, depending upon circumstances, to share power in another coalition with one of the two larger, major parties, the PS or PSD. Indeed, parliamentary election results in March 2002 gave the party just such an opportunity, as the PP won 14 percent of the vote, thus surpassing for the first time since the 1975 elections the PCP, which was reduced to 12 percent of the vote. The PP thus gained new influence as the PSD, which won the largest number of seats in this election, was obliged to share governance with the PP in order to have a working majority in the legislature.

   Various right-wing lobbies and interest groups influenced the PP. In early 2000, the PP proposed a law to the Assembly of the Republic whereby former colonists, now mainly resident in Portugal, who had lost property in Portugal's former colonies of Angola and Mozambique, would be compensated by Portugal for material losses during decolonization. The PP leadership argued that the manner in which the governments after the Revolution of 25 April 1974 administered the disputed, controversial decolonization process in these territories made the government responsible for compensating Portuguese citizens for such losses. The PS-dominated government of then prime minister, Antônio Guterres, argued, however, that independent governments of those former colonies were responsible for any compensation due. Thus, Guterres declined to accept the proposed legislation. This proposal by the PP and others like it followed upon other proposed laws such as Law 20, 19 June 1997, put before the Assembly of the Republic, which was passed under the aegis of the PS. This law pledged to compensate opposition militants (the survivors) who had opposed the Estado Novo and had spent years in exile, as well as in clandestine activities. Such compensations would come in the form of pensions and social security benefits. Given the strength of conservative constituencies and former settlers' lobbies, it is likely that the Christian Democrats will introduce more such proposed laws in future parliamentary sessions.

Historical dictionary of Portugal > Christian Democratic Party
10 Russell, John Scott

SUBJECT AREA: Ports and shipping

[br]

b. 9 May 1808 Parkhead, near Glasgow, Scotland

d. 8 June 1882 Isle of Wight, England

[br]

Scottish engineer, naval architect and academic.

[br]

A son of the manse, Russell was originally destined for the Church and commenced studies at the University of St Andrews, but shortly afterwards he transferred to Glasgow, graduating MA in 1825 when only 17 years old. He began work as a teacher in Edinburgh, working up from a school to the Mechanics Institute and then in 1832 to the University, where he took over the classes in natural philosophy following the death of the professor. During this period he designed and advised on the application of steam power to road transport and to the Forth and Clyde Canal, thereby awakening his interest in ships and naval architecture.

Russell presented papers to the British Association over several years, and one of them, The Wave Line Theory of Ship Form (although now superseded), had great influence on ship designers of the time and helped to establish the formal study of hydromechanics. With a name that was becoming well known, Russell looked around for better opportunities, and on narrowly missing appointment to the Chair of Mathematics at Edinburgh University he joined the upand-coming Clyde shipyard of Caird \& Co., Greenock, as Manager in 1838.

Around 1844 Russell and his family moved to London; following some business problems he was in straitened circumstances. However, appointment as Secretary to the Committee setting up the Great Exhibition of 1851 eased his path into London's intellectual society and allowed him to take on tasks such as, in 1847, the purchase of Fairbairn's shipyard on the Isle of Dogs and the subsequent building there of I.K. Brunel's Great Eastern steamship. This unhappy undertaking was a millstone around the necks of Brunel and Russell and broke the health of the former. With the yard failing to secure the order for HMS Warrior, the Royal Navy's first ironclad, Russell pulled out of shipbuilding and for the remainder of his life was a designer, consultant and at times controversial, but at all times polished and urbane, member of many important committees and societies. He is remembered as one of the founders of the Institution of Naval Architects in 1860. His last task was to design a Swiss Lake steamer for Messrs Escher Wyss, a company that coincidentally had previously retained Sir William Fairbairn.

[br]

Principal Honours and Distinctions

FRS 1847.

Bibliography

John Scott Russell published many papers under the imprint of the British Association, the Royal Society of Arts and the Institution of Naval Architects. His most impressive work was the mammoth three-volume work on shipbuilding published in London in 1865 entitled The Modern System of Naval Architecture. Full details and plans of the Great Eastern are included.

Further Reading

G.S.Emmerson, 1977, John Scott Russell, a Great Victorian Engineer and Naval Architect, London: Murray

FMW

Biographical history of technology > Russell, John Scott
11 port-by-port

прил. попортовый

The following three rules can help you determine a comfortable dimmer count on a port-by-port basis to arrive at an optimal setting for your circumstances. — Следующие три правила могут помочь вам определить удобное количество диммеров на попортовой основе, чтобы добиться оптимальной установки для вашего удобства.

Англо-русский универсальный дополнительный практический переводческий словарь И. Мостицкого > port-by-port
12 Finishing

FINISHING (Gloves, knit)
The operations used to prepare knitted glove fabric for manufacture and these are usually shrinking, dyeing, drying, sueding and pasting. ————————
FINISHING
The imparting of special characteristics to certain makes of cotton goods to give them a resemblance to linen, wool, or silk. Finishing is an extensive and complicated art; and the various methods of working are modified according to whether white, grey, coloured, or printed goods are under consideration. Many forms of treatment call for the provision of specially constructed machines. The several main operations that are variously called into use may be classified in the following manner, though order of procedure is necessarily dependent on circumstances: - Singeing, raising, shearing, brushing, steaming, starching, calendering (various forms) impregnating, breaking-down, damping, mangling, moireing, embossing, stentering and stretching, doubling, measuring, plaiting, marking, pressing and packing. Many of the single operations are likewise modified according to the quality of the cloth and the nature of the finish desired. For instance, that of calendering takes many forms from the comparatively simple process of exerting pressure on the cloth for giving a slightly smooth surface, to more complicated ones and to " schreinering " for a very high gloss.

Dictionary of the English textile terms > Finishing
13 Spain

   Portugal's independence and sovereignty as a nation-state are based on being separate from Spain. Achieving this on a peninsula where its only landward neighbor, Spain, is stronger, richer, larger, and more populous, raises interesting historical questions. Considering the disparity in size of population alone — Spain (as of 2000) had a population of 40 million, whereas Portugal's population numbered little over 10 million—how did Portugal maintain its sometimes precarious independence? If the Basques, Catalans, and Galicians succumbed to Castilian military and political dominance and were incorporated into greater Spain, how did little Portugal manage to survive the "Spanish menace?" A combination of factors enabled Portugal to keep free of Spain, despite the era of "Babylonian Captivity" (1580-1640). These include an intense Portuguese national spirit; foreign assistance in staving off Spanish invasions and attacks between the late 14th century and the mid l9th century, principally through the Anglo- Portuguese Alliance and some assistance from France; historical circumstances regarding Spain's own trials and tribulations and decline in power after 1600.

   In Portugal's long history, Castile and Leon (later "Spain," as unified in the 16th century) acted as a kind of Iberian mother and stepmother, present at Portugal's birth as well as at times when Portuguese independence was either in danger or lost. Portugal's birth as a separate state in the 12th century was in part a consequence of the king of Castile's granting the "County of Portucale" to a transplanted Burgundian count in the late 11th century. For centuries Castile, Leon, Aragon, and Portugal struggled for supremacy on the peninsula, until the Castilian army met defeat in 1385 at the battle of Aljubarrota, thus assuring Portugal's independence for nearly two centuries. Portugal and its overseas empire suffered considerably under rule by Phillipine Spain (1580-1640). Triumphant in the War of Restoration against Spain (1640-68), Portugal came to depend on its foreign alliances to provide a counterweight to a still menacing kindred neighbor. Under the Anglo-Portuguese Alliance, England (later Great Britain) managed to help Portugal thwart more than a few Spanish invasion threats in the next centuries. Rumors and plots of Spain consuming Portugal continued during the 19th century and even during the first Portuguese republic's early years to 1914.

   Following difficult diplomatic relations during Spain's subsequent Second Republic (1931-36) and civil war (1936-39), Luso-Span-ish relations improved significantly under the authoritarian regimes that ruled both states until the mid-1970s. Portugal's prime minister Antônio de Oliveira Salazar and Spain's generalissimo Francisco Franco signed nonaggression and other treaties, lent each other mutual support, and periodically consulted one another on vital questions. During this era (1939-74), there were relatively little trade, business, and cultural relations between the two neighbors, who mainly tended to ignore one another. Spain's economy developed more rapidly than Portugal's after 1950, and General Franco was quick to support the Estado Novo across the frontier if he perceived a threat to his fellow dictator's regime. In January 1962, for instance, Spanish army units approached the Portuguese frontier in case the abortive military coup at Beja (where a Portuguese oppositionist plot failed) threatened the Portuguese dictatorship.

   Since Portugal's Revolution of 25 April 1974, and the death of General Franco and the establishment of democracy in Spain (1975-78), Luso-Spanish relations have improved significantly. Portugal has experienced a great deal of Spanish investment, tourism, and other economic activities, since both Spain and Portugal became members of the European Economic Community (EEC) in 1986.

   Yet, Portugal's relations with Spain have become closer still, with increased integration in the European Union. Portugal remains determined not to be confused with Spain, and whatever threat from across the frontier exists comes more from Spanish investment than from Spanish winds, marriages, and armies. The fact remains that Luso-Spanish relations are more open and mutually beneficial than perhaps at any other time in history.

Historical dictionary of Portugal > Spain
14 Vieira, Father António de

(1608-1697)

   A talented and influential individual, and one of the greatest speakers and prose writers of early modern Portugal, Vieira was a Jesuit priest, writer, missionary, advisor to kings, and diplomatic negotiator. At age eight, he went to Brazil and was educated there in a Jesuit College. Like Francisco Manuel de Melo, his Jesuit-educated contemporary, Vieira participated in the great crises and conflicts of his day, including the ongoing war between the Inquisition and Portugal's New Christians, the loss and partial recovery of parts of Portugal's still extensive overseas empire, the rise to the Portuguese throne of the Braganza dynasty, the restoration of Portugal's independence from Spain in 1640, and the subsequent struggle to retain that independence under adverse circumstances.

   One of Father Vieira's major efforts was his campaign to have the Portuguese Inquisition relax its policy of confiscation of New Christian capital and property and to convince converted Jews in Portugal and Portuguese Jews in exile to provide capital in Portugal's efforts to reinforce its defenses against many threatened Spanish invasions during 1640-68, when Spain finally officially recognized Portugal's independence in a treaty. Such monies were also employed in defending Portugal's overseas empire and helping to drive out enemies who had occupied portions of Portugal's dominions abroad.

   Father Vieira spent a large part of his career in Brazil as a Jesuit missionary and administrator and was famous for defending the freedom and rights of Amerindians against settlers. A great sermonizer who possessed a strong messianic belief and grounding in the prophecies of the Old Testament, Vieira became an influential advisor to the Portuguese kings, as well as a diplomat assigned important tasks abroad. Vieira preached sermons in which he proclaimed that the awaited messiah who would restore Portugal to world power status in the future was not King Sebastião I, who died in 1578 in battle against the Muslims in Morocco, but King João IV, an assertion that lost some credibility following the king's death in 1656.

   Among Father Vieira's prolific writings, his most noted are his collected sermons in 15 volumes, Letras, his História do Futuro, and his famous defense against accusations when on trial before the Portuguese Inquisition, the Defesa perante o Tribunal do Santo Ofício.

Historical dictionary of Portugal > Vieira, Father António de
15 Force

subs.

Compulsion: P. and V. βία, ἡ, ἀνάγκη, ἡ.

Motion: P. φορά, ἡ.

Rush: Ar. and P. ῥυμή, ἡ, V. ῥιπή, ἡ.

Violence: P. and V. βία, ἡ, ἰσχύς, ἡ, V. τὸ καρτερόν.

Strength: P. and V. δύναμις, ἡ, ἰσχύς, ἡ. ῥώμη, ἡ, V. σθένος, τό, ἀλκή, ἡ, μένος, τό (also Plat. but rare P.).

Military force: P. δύναμις, ἡ, παρασκευή, ἡ; see Army.

Be present in force: P. πλήθει παρεῖναι (Thuc. 8, 22).

In full force: P. πανδημεί, πανστρατίᾳ, παντὶ σθένει, V. πολλῇ χειρί, σὺν πολλῇ χερί.

Meaning: P. and V. δύναμις, ἡ, P. διάνοια, ἡ, βούλησις, ἡ.

Force of character: P. φύσεως ἰσχύς. ἡ (Thuc. 1, 138).

Force of circumstances: ἀνάγκη τῶν πραγμάτων (Andoc. 28).

The same principles you laid down when you brought Timarchus to trial surely may be put into force by others against you: P. ἃ ὡρίσω σὺ δίκαια ὅτε Τίμαρχον ἔκρινες, ταὐτὰ δήπου ταῦτα καὶ κατὰ σοῦ προσήκει τοῖς ἄλλοις ἰσχύειν (Dem. 416).

The force of this argument you can understand from the following: P. τοῦτο ὅσον δύναται, γνοῖτʼ ἂν ἐκ τωνδί (Dem. 524).

By force: P. and V. βίᾳ, βιαίως, πρὸς βίαν, ἀνάγκῃ, ἐξ ἀνάγκης, V. ἐκ βίας, κατʼ ἰσχύν, σθένει, πρὸς τὸ καρτερόν, πρὸς ἰσχύος κράτος.

By force of arms: P. κατὰ κράτος.

In force (of laws, etc.); use adj., P. and V. κύριος.

Put in force, exercise, v.: P. and V. χρῆσθαι (dat.).

Be in force: P. and V. ἰσχύειν.

Use force: P. and V. βιάζεσθαι (absol.).

With all one's force, by might and main: P. κατὰ κράτος, Ar. κατὰ τὸ καρτερόν.

——————

v. trans.

Compel: P. and V. ἀναγκάζειν, ἐπαναγκάζειν, καταναγκάζειν, βιάζεσθαι, Ar. and P. προσαναγκάζειν, P. καταβιάζεσθαι, Ar. and V. ἐξαναγκάζειν, V. διαβιάζεσθαι.

Force ( an entrance): P. βιάζεσθαι (acc.) (Thuc. 4, 9).

Force one's way: P. βιάζεσθαι (absol.).

Force one's way in: Ar. and P. εἰσβιάζεσθαι.

Force one's way out: P. βιάζεσθαι εἰς τὰ ἔξω.

Force back: see Repulse.

Force open: see Prise.

Woodhouse English-Greek dictionary. A vocabulary of the Attic language > Force
16 Brearley, Harry

SUBJECT AREA: Metallurgy

[br]

b. 18 February 1871 Sheffield, England

d. 14 July 1948 Torquay, Devon, England

[br]

English inventor of stainless steel.

[br]

Brearley was born in poor circumstances. He received little formal education and was nurtured rather in and around the works of Thomas Firth \& Sons, where his father worked in the crucible steel-melting shop. One of his first jobs was to help in their chemical laboratory where the chief chemist, James Taylor, encouraged him and helped him fit himself for a career as a steelworks chemist.

In 1901 Brearley left Firth's to set up a laboratory at Kayser Ellison \& Co., but he returned to Firth's in 1904, when he was appointed Chief Chemist at their Riga works, and Works Manager the following year. In 1907 he returned to Sheffield to design and equip a research laboratory to serve both Firth's and John Brown \& Co. It was during his time as head of this laboratory that he made his celebrated discovery. In 1913, while seeking improved steels for rifle barrels, he used one containing 12.68 per cent chromium and 0.24 per cent carbon, in the hope that it would resist fouling and erosion. He tried to etch a specimen for microscopic examination but failed, from which he concluded that it would resist corrosion by, for example, the acids encountered in foods and cooking. The first knives made of this new steel were unsatisfactory and the 1914–18 war interrupted further research. But eventually the problems were overcome and Brearley's discovery led to a range of stainless steels with various compositions for domestic, medical and industrial uses, including the well-known "18–8" steel, with 18 per cent chromium and 8 per cent nickel.

In 1915 Brearley left the laboratory to become Works Manager, then Technical Director, at Brown Bayley's steelworks until his retirement in 1925.

[br]

Principal Honours and Distinctions

Iron and Steel Institute Bessemer Gold Medal 1920.

Bibliography

Brearley wrote several books, including: 1915 (?), with F.Ibbotson, The Analysis of Steelworks Materials, London.

The Heat Treatment of Tool Steels. Ingots and Ingot Moulds.

Later books include autobiographical details: 1946, Talks on Steelmaking, American Society for Metals.

1941, Knotted String: Autobiography of a Steelmaker, London: Longmans, Green.

Further Reading

Obituary, 1948, Journal of the Iron and Steel Institute: 428–9.

LRD

Biographical history of technology > Brearley, Harry
17 Burrell, William

SUBJECT AREA: Ports and shipping

[br]

b. c.1570 England

d. 1630 near Huntingdon, England

[br]

English shipbuilder and Chief Shipwright to the East India Company.

[br]

Born into comfortable circumstances, Burrell chose ship construction as his career. Ability aided by financial influence helped professional advancement, and by his early thirties he possessed a shipyard at Ratcliffe on the River Thames. Ship design was then unscientific, shrouded in mystique, and it required patience and perseverance to penetrate the conventions of the craft.

From the 1600s Burrell had been investing in the East India Company. In 1607 the Company decided to build ships in their own right, and Burrell was appointed as the first Master Shipwright, a post he held for nearly twenty years. The first ship, Trade's Increase, of 1,000-tons burthen, was the largest ship built in England until the eighteenth century, but following a mishap at launch and the ship's subsequent loss on its maiden voyage, the Company reassessed its policy and built smaller ships. Burrell's foresight can be gauged by his involvement in two private commercial undertakings in Ireland; one to create oak forests for shipbuilding, and the other to set up a small ironworks. In 1618 a Royal Commission was appointed to enquire into the poor condition of the Navy, and with the help of Burrell it was ruled that the main problems were neglect and corruption. With his name being known and his good record of production, the Royal Navy ordered no fewer than ten warships from Burrell in the four-year period from 1619 to 1623. With experience in the military and commercial sectors, Burrell can be regarded as an all-round and expert shipbuilder of the Stuart period. He used intuition at a time when there were no scientific rules and little reliable empiric guidance on ship design.

[br]

Principal Honours and Distinctions

First Warden of the Shipwrights' Company after its new Charter of 1612.

Further Reading

A.P.McGowan, 1978, "William Burrell (c. 1570–1630). A forgotten Stuart shipwright", Ingrid and other Studies (National Maritime Museum Monograph No. 36). W.Abell, 1948, The Shipwright's Trade, Cambridge.

FMW

Biographical history of technology > Burrell, William
18 Gamond, Aimé Thomé de

SUBJECT AREA: Civil engineering

[br]

b. 1807

d. 1876

[br]

French civil engineer and early advocate of the Channel Tunnel.

[br]

He became interested in the possibility of a tunnel or a bridge link between England and France in 1833 when he did his own geological survey of a route between Calais and Dover, and in 1834 he proposed an immersed tube tunnel. However, at the Great Exhibition of 1855 he promoted a scheme incorporating an artificial stone isthmus with movable bridges, which was estimated to cost £33,600,000, but this idea was eventuallv abandoned. He reverted to the idea of a tunnel and did further survey in 1855, with 180 lb (80 kg) of flint for ballast, ten inflated pig bladders to bring him to the surface and pieces of buttered lint plastered over his ears to protect them against the water pressure. He touched bottom between 99 and 108 ft (30 and 33 m). In 1856 Napoleon III granted him an audience and promised a scientific commission to evaluate his scheme, which it eventually approved. In 1858 he went to London and got the backing of Robert Stephenson, Isambard K. Brunel and Joseph Locke. He also obtained an interview with Prince Albert. In 1858, after an assassination attempt on Napoleon III, relations between France and England cooled off and Thomé de Gamond's plans were halted. He revived them in 1867, but others were by now also putting forward schemes. He had worked on the scheme for thirty-five years and expended a small fortune. In 1875 The Times reported that he was "living in humble circumstances, his daughter supporting him by giving lessons on the piano". He died the following year.

[br]

Further Reading

T.Whiteside, 1962, The Tunnel under the Channel.

IMcN

Biographical history of technology > Gamond, Aimé Thomé de
19 Huygens, Christiaan

SUBJECT AREA: Horology

[br]

b. 14 April 1629 The Hague, the Netherlands

d. 8 June 1695 The Hague, the Netherlands

[br]

Dutch scientist who was responsible for two of the greatest advances in horology: the successful application of both the pendulum to the clock and the balance spring to the watch.

[br]

Huygens was born into a cultured and privileged class. His father, Constantijn, was a poet and statesman who had wide interests. Constantijn exerted a strong influence on his son, who was educated at home until he reached the age of 16. Christiaan studied law and mathematics at Ley den University from 1645 to 1647, and continued his studies at the Collegium Arausiacum in Breda until 1649. He then lived at The Hague, where he had the means to devote his time entirely to study. In 1666 he became a Member of the Académie des Sciences in Paris and settled there until his return to The Hague in 1681. He also had a close relationship with the Royal Society and visited London on three occasions, meeting Newton on his last visit in 1689. Huygens had a wide range of interests and made significant contributions in mathematics, astronomy, optics and mechanics. He also made technical advances in optical instruments and horology.

Despite the efforts of Burgi there had been no significant improvement in the performance of ordinary clocks and watches from their inception to Huygens's time, as they were controlled by foliots or balances which had no natural period of oscillation. The pendulum appeared to offer a means of improvement as it had a natural period of oscillation that was almost independent of amplitude. Galileo Galilei had already pioneered the use of a freely suspended pendulum for timing events, but it was by no means obvious how it could be kept swinging and used to control a clock. Towards the end of his life Galileo described such a. mechanism to his son Vincenzio, who constructed a model after his father's death, although it was not completed when he himself died in 1642. This model appears to have been copied in Italy, but it had little influence on horology, partly because of the circumstances in which it was produced and possibly also because it differed radically from clocks of that period. The crucial event occurred on Christmas Day 1656 when Huygens, quite independently, succeeded in adapting an existing spring-driven table clock so that it was not only controlled by a pendulum but also kept it swinging. In the following year he was granted a privilege or patent for this clock, and several were made by the clockmaker Salomon Coster of The Hague. The use of the pendulum produced a dramatic improvement in timekeeping, reducing the daily error from minutes to seconds, but Huygens was aware that the pendulum was not truly isochronous. This error was magnified by the use of the existing verge escapement, which made the pendulum swing through a large arc. He overcame this defect very elegantly by fitting cheeks at the pendulum suspension point, progressively reducing the effective length of the pendulum as the amplitude increased. Initially the cheeks were shaped empirically, but he was later able to show that they should have a cycloidal shape. The cheeks were not adopted universally because they introduced other defects, and the problem was eventually solved more prosaically by way of new escapements which reduced the swing of the pendulum. Huygens's clocks had another innovatory feature: maintaining power, which kept the clock going while it was being wound.

Pendulums could not be used for portable timepieces, which continued to use balances despite their deficiencies. Robert Hooke was probably the first to apply a spring to the balance, but his efforts were not successful. From his work on the pendulum Huygens was well aware of the conditions necessary for isochronism in a vibrating system, and in January 1675, with a flash of inspiration, he realized that this could be achieved by controlling the oscillations of the balance with a spiral spring, an arrangement that is still used in mechanical watches. The first model was made for Huygens in Paris by the clockmaker Isaac Thuret, who attempted to appropriate the invention and patent it himself. Huygens had for many years been trying unsuccessfully to adapt the pendulum clock for use at sea (in order to determine longitude), and he hoped that a balance-spring timekeeper might be better suited for this purpose. However, he was disillusioned as its timekeeping proved to be much more susceptible to changes in temperature than that of the pendulum clock.

[br]

Principal Honours and Distinctions

FRS 1663. Member of the Académie Royale des Sciences 1666.

Bibliography

For his complete works, see Oeuvres complètes de Christian Huygens, 1888–1950, 22 vols, The Hague.

1658, Horologium, The Hague; repub., 1970, trans. E.L.Edwardes, Antiquarian

Horology 7:35–55 (describes the pendulum clock).

1673, Horologium Oscillatorium, Paris; repub., 1986, The Pendulum Clock or Demonstrations Concerning the Motion ofPendula as Applied to Clocks, trans.

R.J.Blackwell, Ames.

The balance spring watch was first described in Journal des Sçavans 25 February 1675, and translated in Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society (1675) 4:272–3.

Further Reading

H.J.M.Bos, 1972, Dictionary of Scientific Biography, ed. C.C.Gillispie, Vol. 6, New York, pp. 597–613 (for a fuller account of his life and scientific work, but note the incorrect date of his death).

R.Plomp, 1979, Spring-Driven Dutch Pendulum Clocks, 1657–1710, Schiedam (describes Huygens's application of the pendulum to the clock).

S.A.Bedini, 1991, The Pulse of Time, Florence (describes Galileo's contribution of the pendulum to the clock).

J.H.Leopold, 1982, "L"Invention par Christiaan Huygens du ressort spiral réglant pour les montres', Huygens et la France, Paris, pp. 154–7 (describes the application of the balance spring to the watch).

A.R.Hall, 1978, "Horology and criticism", Studia Copernica 16:261–81 (discusses Hooke's contribution).

DV

Biographical history of technology > Huygens, Christiaan

См. также в других словарях:

Circumstances prior to the Malayan Emergency — In 1948, the Communists and the British colonial government in Malaya entered a period of guerrilla fighting which has become known to history as the Malayan Emergency. The name derives from the state of emergency declared by the colonial… … Wikipedia
Do otherwise in the same circumstances — The ability to choose and do otherwise in exactly the same circumstances is one of two criteria considered essential for libertarian free will and for moral responsibility. The other is the existence of alternative possibilities for action.[1]… … Wikipedia
Terrain-following radar — (TFR) is an aerospace technology that allows a very low flying aircraft to automatically maintain a relatively constant altitude. It is sometimes referred to as ground hugging or terrain hugging flight. The term nape of the earth flight may also… … Wikipedia
Timeline for September following the September 11 attacks — All times, except where otherwise noted, in Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). This is four hours (instead of five) before UTC because of daylight saving time. September, 2001 Wednesday, September 12 *2:30 AM, CBS reports that a car packed with… … Wikipedia
attendant circumstances — Facts surrounding an event; e.g. the time, place and declarations of a testator prior to and immediately following execution of his will … Black's law dictionary
attendant circumstances — Facts surrounding an event; e.g. the time, place and declarations of a testator prior to and immediately following execution of his will … Black's law dictionary
Ages of consent in North America — The ages of consent for sexual activity vary by jurisdiction across North America. OverviewThe age of consent is the age at or above which a person is considered to have the legal capacity to consent to sexual activity. Both partners must be of… … Wikipedia
Judicial system of the People's Republic of China — For the Ministry of Justice, see Ministry of Justice of the People s Republic of China. People s Republic of China This article is part of the series: Politics and government of … Wikipedia
China Employment Law — The China Employment Law 2008 is a statute which regulates the contract of employment among workers in China. It was introduced on 1 January 2008.Text from the Actcquote|Effective January 1, 2008 The following is an translated copy of the… … Wikipedia
Majorité sexuelle en Amérique du Nord et centrale — Âge de la majorité sexuelle en Amérique du Nord puberté 12 … Wikipédia en Français
Majorité sexuelle en Amérique du nord et centrale — Cette page est une annexe de : Majorité sexuelle Majorité sexuelle en Amérique du Nord et centrale Annexe de : Majorité sexuelle … Wikipédia en Français

Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

Перевод: с английского на все языки

in following circumstances

См. также в других словарях:

Поделиться ссылкой на выделенное

Словари и энциклопедии на Академике

Перевод: с английского на все языки

in following circumstances

См. также в других словарях:

Поделиться ссылкой на выделенное

Прямая ссылка: