Notes in Spanish Intermediate 1 - Explanation

[andrea]

I just listened to the first Intermediate podcast, and I am not at all clear why "estoy el chico más contento del mundo" is marked as an error. In the Inspired Beginner podcast 23, on the differences between "ser" and "estar", it is stated that "estar" is used for temporary states, and this is a temporary state, because Ben is happy "las veces que podemos salir y tomar un poquito de aire fresco". Moreover, "estar" is used with feelings, and "contento" is definitely a feeling. So, why is this marked as an error? Can anyone enlighten me? Thank you in advance.

[Pippa]

Creo que es porque "soy el chico...", eso no cambia. Puedes decir:
Soy el chico que vive en el tercer piso (seguramente no vas a vivir ahí para siempre, pero siempre vas a ser un chico)
soy el chico que ganó la lotería
soy el chico que te salvó del naufragio
soy el chico que lloraba mucho en el funeral ( y no vas a llorar toda la vida)

Pero puedes decir: Estoy muy contento.
O incluso en el ejemplo que has puesto de Ben; Ben está muy contento las veces que puede salir y tomar un poquito de aire fresco.

No se si me he explicado bien.

[andrea]

Creo que tienes razon. Muchas gracias por tus explicaciones.

[mightykaboosh]

soy el chico que te salvó del naufragio

I am the boy that saved you from the shipwreck? I don't get why salvó is
used?

Does this literally translate to I am the boy that he/it saved you from the shipwreck

how come it's salvó- he/she it saved? Is it like with gente ie straight to 3rd person singular?

Is it salvó just because el chico has been used, i.e you couldn't say soy el chico que te salve del naufagio, I am the boy that I saved you, but you could say te salve del naufragio.

or is it that saved goes straight to third person singular? as you can see I struggle with this


Many thanks for any response, & soz for hijacking thread

[Pippa]

I have just had a veeery long day at work, but let's see if I can make any sense:

You are right, what you have to think is who is the subject:

Soy el chico que te salvó del naufragio:I am the boy who saved you from the shipwreck
Soy el chico que = el, 3rd person singular. Imagine you can also say: El chico te salvó del naufragio, 3rd person singular, but it happens that that boy is me, so I am using 3rd person singular.
On the other hand, if you say: Yo te salvé del naufragio, 1st person singular, I saved you from the shipwreck

Tú eres el chico que me salvaste del naufragio. You are the boy who saved me from the shipwreck.= tu me salvaste del naufragio = You saved me from the shipwreck. 2nd person singular.

[nohablo]

Originally Posted by Pippa

Soy el chico que te salvó del naufragio:I am the boy who saved you from the shipwreck
Soy el chico que = el, 3rd person singular. Imagine you can also say: El chico te salvó del naufragio, 3rd person singular, but it happens that that boy is me, so I am using 3rd person singular.
On the other hand, if you say: Yo te salvé del naufragio, 1st person singular, I saved you from the shipwreck

Tú eres el chico que me salvaste del naufragio. You are the boy who saved me from the shipwreck.= tu me salvaste del naufragio = You saved me from the shipwreck. 2nd person singular.

Shouldn't "Tú eres el chico que me salvaste de naufragio" be "Tú eres el chico que me salvó del naufragio"? I would think that the same explanation you gave for using salvó in the earlier sentence applies here as well. The second sentence is saying that the boy saved me and it happens that the boy is you--thus, you need to use the 3rd person singular here as well.

[Pippa]

Yes, of course you are right. I knew I should have left it for the following day, as I was very tired.

Tú eres el chico que me salvó del naufragio
Tú me salvaste del naufragio.