Tomar and food

In Maragarita Madrigal's "Magic Key to Spanish" she states: [quo]*Quote:* In Spanish the verb "to take" is used to express eating and drinking. We say, "I took dinner," instead of, "I had dinner," "I took coffee" instead of "I had coffee."[/quo] She then writes some example sentences, including the following: [quo]*Quote:* Sí, tomé rosbif.[/quo] Is this a common use for tomar? I spoke to a friend from Bolivia and they told me they don't use it this way. If I had a drink I would use it this way, but not roast beef. Any thoughts on this? Also, in Rocket Interactive 3.1 (I think) there is discussion of "va a ser". When listening to this I thought it sounded exactly like "va hacer". I then tried to come up with scenarios where you could use both in the same sentence, with different meaning of course. I'm early in my studies so maybe this will become clear later. Would context allow me to know what was being said? Hearing this, and starting to move into past tense a bit with tomo and tomó, which are the same but accented differently, made me realize this is going to be a long haul. But I'm not giving up! (not yet anyway...)

Hola, navenr. Try this link: http://spanish.about.com/od/usingparticularverbs/a/verbtomar.htm. It may help you in fully understanding how the verb tomar is expressed. To express the future, use the present tense of 'ir' (to go), followed by 'a' + infinitive (an -ar, -er, or -ir ending verb). Ella va a ser mamá y va a hacer algunos cambios. She is going to be a mom and going to make some changes. "Va hacer", which you mentioned, and "va a hacer" have different meanings. If anyone finds this to be false, feel free to correct me. I will leave it to someone else to help you with that, navenr. I may confuse you ... if I haven't already. :oops:

navenr: In French, we also _take _coffee... Although we would report to have _eaten _a steak, the latter may be what we decided to _take _from the choices offered on the menu. Claude

[quo]*Quote from * navenr Hearing this, and starting to move into past tense a bit with tomo and tomó, which are the same but accented differently, made me realize this is going to be a long haul. But I'm not giving up! (not yet anyway...)[/quo] Navenr: Take this from someone who's learned a second language: _don't get discouraged_. Above all, learn to enjoy communicating even the simplest thought. For instance, I was in Cuba recently and went to the reception desk to exchange some of my dollars for (fewer than I would have liked) convertible pesos. The lady at the desk asked me my room number and I promptly delivered the four-digit number to her: " cuatro seis uno tres " (I'll admit that I had rehearsed mentally just in case). To my utter delight, she replied, "!Que bueno!" and started speaking in Spanish to me thinking I could go on. I then had to tell her that I was "apprendiendo" and that she needed to speak "más despacio" (given that I had bought the RS package just a month before), but her reaction was nonetheless a real boost to my motivation to learn this wonderful language (which seems to work in many ways like mine - French). Navenr: You have to take things in stride. Eventually, some things will fall in, and then some more. Eventually, you will realize that your're thinking in the new language and enjoying it to the fullest. Years later, you'll still make some grammatical errors or use words folks don't use in the country or city you're visiting, but their correcting statements will not reflect negatively on you. In fact, you should take corrections as a sign of respect and deference (which native speakers are showing to you for attempting to learn their language). I retired from professional life 10 years ago and got annoyed in a different way. After working for some 20 years in English, I came to realize that I had difficulty expressing myself precisely in French without using English words". I discovered as well (through corrections) that my writing in French has also become "corrupted" as well by English syntax! Isn't that an interesting paradox from the point of the statement from you which I quoted at the onset of this post? In sum, please look at difficulties as a pleasurable growth experience and you'll truly enjoy your Spanish learning. I know I really am. Remember that an awful lot of people speak badly in their very own language. What matters in the end is the act of communication, which fosters greater togetherness and understanding among people of different cultures. The act of learning someone's native language makes us richer as persons. I truly believe that. Anybody who corrects me in a condescending manner gets it from me ( I get that from Paris people, who seem to think Québec French is a foreign language!). Chao, Claude

I'd like to add a postcriptum to my previous post: I just read that research conducted at the Rotman Institute in Toronto (affiliated to the U of Toronto) points out that speaking two languages (bilingualism) retards the development of senility in people. !Que chevere! Claude

Certainly it is used here in Spain. ¿Qué van a tomar de primero? would be asked by the camarero. Alan

[quo]*Quote from * Chamel [quo]*Quote from * navenr Hearing this, and starting to move into past tense a bit with tomo and tomó, which are the same but accented differently, made me realize this is going to be a long haul. But I'm not giving up! (not yet anyway...)[/quo] Navenr: You have to take things in stride. Eventually, some things will fall in, and then some more. Eventually, you will realize that your're thinking in the new language and enjoying it to the fullest. Years later, you'll still make some grammatical errors or use words folks don't use in the country or city you're visiting, but their correcting statements will not reflect negatively on you. In fact, you should take corrections as a sign of respect and deference (which native speakers are showing to you for attempting to learn their language). [/quo] Navenr, I agree with Chamel 100%! Especially about native speakers showing respect. 'Til this day, I still become "un poco" nervous when speaking to them, although I know they appreciate me being interested in their language, and enough to learn it and act on speaking it. So, Chamel's advice is good advice. Take it! :wink:

[quo]*Quote from * Chamel I'd like to add a postcriptum to my previous post: I just read that research conducted at the Rotman Institute in Toronto (affiliated to the U of Toronto) points out that speaking two languages (bilingualism) retards the development of senility in people. !Que chevere! Claude[/quo] That research makes sense. ... /I/ think so.

Thanks all of you for the feedback! It's strange, I really am on a rollercoaster with my studies. After posting this, before bedtime, I was flipping through "Spanish Now", a Barron's beginner's book I had bought quite some time ago. As I went from chapter to chapter I realized how much I really know. Yes, there are holes, but I've only been at it a few months and realize I am making progress. So thanks again, and I'll be sure to visit the bb again!