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Permalink Reply by Sam on May 14, 2008 at 1:23am

a veces el se afeita. odia afeitarse y porque de eso el tiene una barba pequena. no me gustan barbas. quiero que ricardo se afeite todos los dias.

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Permalink Reply by Dunia on May 14, 2008 at 3:36am

"Él se afeita a veces. Él odia afeitarse y por lo tanto (y por eso) tiene un poco de barba. No me gusta/n la/s barba/s. Quiero que Ricardo se afeite cada día (todos los días)."

The structure goes like this: I want someone to do sth = Quiero que alguien haga algo

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Permalink Reply by Hil on May 14, 2008 at 3:53am

Hi, thank you both for your replies. Can i ask what the difference is between 'se afeita' and 'se afeite' - it's probably a stupid question, but in class we learnt 'se afeita'.

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Permalink Reply by Dunia on May 14, 2008 at 3:58am

It is not a stupid question at all.

Se afeita (Present Indicative)
Se afeite (Present Subjunctive)

"Mi marido se afeita todos los días" (You are expressing a fact)
"Quiero que mi marido se afeite todos los días" (You are expressing a subjectivity, in this case a desire)

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Permalink Reply by Hil on May 14, 2008 at 4:01am

Oh, that's interesting. I hadn't even thought of that, we haven't learnt it in class yet. Thank you for your help! Gracias!

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Permalink Reply by Heidita on May 14, 2008 at 6:32am

Hi again , Hil. your questions are very interesting, and dunia's answers are always very adequate.

I hope you like it here!

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Permalink Reply by Heidita on May 14, 2008 at 6:34am

Hi Sam, VERY good try, one can see your Spanish is very good. Just needs some practising.

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Permalink Reply by Eddy on May 15, 2008 at 9:50am

Hi Hil
I haven't studied Spanish grammar for over thirty years but I believe after the verb querer, if the subject remains the same, you use the present indicative. If the subject changes, you use the present subjunctive.

I want to do it - quiero que yo lo hago (same subject, present indicate)
I want YOU to do it - quiero que tú lo hagas (different subject, present subjunctive)

If this is wrong, then please revert back to the nine words after Hi Hil above.

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