ply guide

están sirviendo a su interés personal — they are furthering o serving their own interests

la cena está servida — dinner's on the table, dinner is served frm

había cinco criados para servir la mesa — there were five servants waiting at o serving at table

ese día sirven una comida especial a la tropa — the troops are given o frm served a special meal that day

sirvieron unos canapés tras la inauguración — after the opening ceremony there were canapés, canapés were served after the opening ceremony frm

• eso no sirve — that's no good o use

este sistema ya no sirve — this system is no good o use any more

ya no me sirve — it's no good o use to me now

• servir para algo, puede servir para limpiar el metal — it can be used for o it is suitable for cleaning metal

la nueva normativa solo ha servido para crear polémica — the new regulation has only served to stir up controversy frm, the only thing the new rule has done is to stir up controversy

• servir de algo, la legislación italiana puede servirnos de guía — we can use Italian law as a guide, Italian law can serve a guide

• no sirve de nada quejarse — it's no good o use complaining, there's no point in complaining

no sirve de nada que vaya él — it's no good o use him going *, there's no point in him going

• ¿de qué sirve mentir? — what's the good o use of lying?, what's the point in lying?

• ponerse a servir — to become a servant

yo serví en la Marina — I was in the Navy, I served in the Navy frm

esta caja no sirve — this box won't do o is no good

servir para algo: ¿para qué sirve este aparato? what's this device for?; no lo tires, puede servir para algo don't throw it away, it might come in useful for something; este cuchillo no sirve para cortar pan this knife is no good for cutting bread; no sirves para nada you're useless; no creo que sirva para este trabajo I don't think he's right o suitable for this job; yo no sirvo para mentir I'm a hopeless liar, I'm not good at lying; servir de algo: de nada sirve llorar it's no use o good crying; ¿de qué sirve hablarle si no te escucha? what's the point in o the use of talking to him if he doesn't listen to you?; esto te puede servir de mesa — you can use this as a table

servir la comida — to serve (out) o (colloq) dish out the food

¿en qué puedo servirle? — (frml) how can I help you?

servirse + inf: sírvase rellenar la solicitud please fill in the application form; les rogamos se sirvan enviarnos esta información — we would ask you to send us this information (frml)

esta caja no sirve — this box won't do o is no good

servir para algo: ¿para qué sirve este aparato? what's this device for?; no lo tires, puede servir para algo don't throw it away, it might come in useful for something; este cuchillo no sirve para cortar pan this knife is no good for cutting bread; no sirves para nada you're useless; no creo que sirva para este trabajo I don't think he's right o suitable for this job; yo no sirvo para mentir I'm a hopeless liar, I'm not good at lying; servir de algo: de nada sirve llorar it's no use o good crying; ¿de qué sirve hablarle si no te escucha? what's the point in o the use of talking to him if he doesn't listen to you?; esto te puede servir de mesa — you can use this as a table

servir la comida — to serve (out) o (colloq) dish out the food

¿en qué puedo servirle? — (frml) how can I help you?

servirse + inf: sírvase rellenar la solicitud please fill in the application form; les rogamos se sirvan enviarnos esta información — we would ask you to send us this information (frml)

Ex: Libraries sometimes also find it useful to prepare leaflets which deal with a particular category of information source which might be of use to various users.

mit dem Bus fahren — to go by bus, to ride the bus (US)

mit dem Aufzug fahren — to take the lift, to ride or take the elevator (US)

ich fuhr mit dem Fahrrad/Auto in die Stadt — I cycled/drove into town, I went into town on my bike/in the car