SPANISH COMPOSITION

BY
EDITH J. BROOMHALL
CENTRAL HIGH SCHOOL, MINNEAPOLIS
MINNESOTA

ALLYN and BACON
BOSTON NEW YORK CHICAGO
ATLANTA SAN FRANCISCO

COPYRIGHT, 1921, BY EDITH J. BROOMHALL.

Norwood Press
J. S. Cushing Co.—Berwick & Smith Co.
Norwood, Mass., U.S.A.

PREFACE

This book aims to teach Spanish idiom. The greatest hindrance to the use of idiomatic Spanish lies in the failure to realize that common English words have various Spanish meanings.

To meet this difficulty, the notes and exercises of Spanish Composition are focused on the errors beginners most frequently make. For instance, attention is drawn to the fact that words like up, down, out, in, away are usually included in the Spanish verb, which is often entirely different from the English expression. Thus, while "to get" is obtener, "to get up" is levantarse.

Of course the treatment cannot be exhaustive, but enough examples are given to show the pupil the necessity of thinking before translating even the commonest words and phrases. The aim has been to give a simple and specific discussion of everyday expressions rather than to try to cover the entire field of Spanish idiom.

About two hundred and fifty quotations from famous Spanish authors illustrate the various idioms and acquaint the learner with the great names of Spanish literature.

I wish to express my hearty thanks to Dr. Harry Kurz of Carleton College, and to my colleagues in the Minneapolis High Schools, Señor Fernando García and Señor Julius Arrieta, who have read the work either in manuscript or in proof.

Edith J. Broomhall.

Central High School,
Minneapolis, Minnesota.
January, 1921.

SPANISH COMPOSITION

LESSON I

1. English to be is generally translated into Spanish by ser or estar, the former with the general idea of permanency, the latter indicating temporary state. Location is always expressed by estar.

I, who was white, am also brown, because the sun has kissed me.

Yo, que era blanca, estoy también morena, porque el sol me ha besado.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.

(a) In expressions referring to the weather to be is rendered by hacer, to make, the descriptive adjective becoming in Spanish a noun of corresponding meaning.

It was suffocatingly hot.

Hacía un calor sofocante.—PALACIO VALDÉS.

It was very cold in the city to-day.

Hacía mucho frío hoy en la ciudad.

Note.—In all such expressions very must be translated mucho, since calor, frío, etc., are nouns.

(b) When used with a predicate adjective indicating mental or physical state, to be is translated by tener, the adjective changing to a noun of corresponding meaning.

The commonest of these expressions are to be hungry, thirsty, hot, cold, sleepy, afraid, right, careful, jealous, which are rendered tener hambre, sed, calor, frío, sueño, miedo, razón, cuidado, celos.

Uncle is right. That can't hurt him.

Tiene razón el tío. Eso no puede hacerle mal.—RAMOS CARRIÓN.

While I am so cold I don't want to go out.

Mientras tengo tanto frío no quiero salir.

I wasn't hungry but I was very sleepy.

No tenía hambre pero tenía mucho sueño.

Note.—In all similar expressions so is rendered tanto. Cf. note to (a) above.

(c) Many phrases consisting of the verb to be and an adjective denoting age or dimension are translated by tener and a noun. Such are to be old, wide, long, high, etc., rendered tener edad, anchura, longitud, altitud. Note also to be to blame, one's fault, tener la culpa; to be successful, tener éxito.

How old are these children?

¿Qué edad tienen estos niños?

The ribbon is two inches wide.

La cinta tiene dos pulgadas de anchura.

(d) To be at meaning to attend is translated asistir a.

There were not many at the meeting last night.

No asistían muchos a la reunión de anoche.

(e) To be worth is translated valer. To be worth while is valer la pena.

I don't know how much it is and it isn't worth while to ask.

No sé cuanto vale y no vale la pena de preguntar.

2. EXERCISES

(a) 1. Hacía tanto calor que no podíamos dormir aunque teníamos mucho sueño. 2. Ya no tenemos miedo de nada. 3. Dice que tiene mucho frío. 4. Nos preguntaron si teníamos hambre. 5. Usted cree que este hombre tiene razón. Pues yo creo que no la tiene. 6. La mesa tiene cuatro pies de longitud y tres de anchura. 7. Yo no tengo la culpa de que no asistieron al teatro anoche. 8. Dígale que tendré mucho gusto en aceptar su amable invitación y asistir al concierto. 9. Ha hecho tanto frío hoy como si fuéramos en el mes de diciembre. 10. Estoy seguro de que usted tendrá mucho éxito.

(b) 1. Don't be afraid of the dog. He will not bite you. 2. How wide is this river? 3. If you are so hungry, why don't you eat? 4. Is it my fault that they are not here yet? 5. It is too cold in this room. Close the door. 6. The living-room is longer than the dining-room, but it is not so wide. 7. I don't feel like (am not desirous of) studying to-night. 8. I wasn't at school the day that the President visited it. 9. I gave him the money although I knew that the thing wasn't worth it. 10. It is cool to-day. It was so warm yesterday.

LESSON II

3. The verb to ask has five common translations. Meaning to question or to inquire it is rendered preguntar.

"Are you asleep, Captain?" the widow asked, greatly alarmed.

¿Duerme Vd., Capitán?—le preguntó muy alarmada la viuda.—PEDRO DE ALARCÓN.

A girl came to the door asking for him.

Vino a la puerta una muchacha preguntando por él.—LOS QUINTERO.

(a) To ask for, beg, is translated pedir a.

He had slipped into the kitchen to ask the cook for something to eat.

Se había deslizado en la cocina para pedir algo que comer a la cocinera.—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.

Note.—With pedir the thing asked for is the direct object, the person of whom it is asked is the indirect, and is introduced by a. Cf. English, "We begged a dollar from father."

(b) To ask in the sense of to request is rendered by pedir or rogar, the latter being the more formal. Both verbs require the subjunctive in the dependent verb.

I asked the children not to make so much noise.

Pedí a los niños que no hiciesen tanto ruido.

I asked Mr. Blanco to come and see me.

Le rogué al señor Blanco que me viniese a ver (a visitar).

(c) To ask, invite is rendered convidar or invitar.

They have asked us to dinner.

Nos han convidado (invitado) a comer con ellos.

(d) To ask questions is rendered hacer preguntas.

And finally he asked himself the same question, wondering that it had not occurred to him before.

Y por fin se hizo la misma pregunta, extrañando que no se le hubiera ocurrido antes la idea.—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.

4. English for as a preposition is rendered by para or por. It is omitted before a non-emphatic personal pronoun object and after many verbs.

He bought it for me yesterday.

Me lo compró ayer.

He bought it for me (for my sake).

Lo compró por mí.

Wait for me.

Espéreme.

Ask for it.

Pídalo.

Look for them.

Búsquelos.

(a) For is rendered para when it expresses destination, purpose, use, future time, and to introduce a qualifying phrase.

This is the train for Madrid.

Este es el tren para Madrid.

She has enough money for her clothes.

Tiene bastante dinero para sus vestidos (prendas de vestir).

This is a machine for cutting leather.

Ésta es una máquina para cortar cuero.

I have an appointment for to-morrow.

Tengo cita para mañana.

She plays the piano well for her age.

Toca el piano bien para su edad.

(b) Expressing exchange, cause, motive, or duration of time, for is rendered por.

I gave him twenty-five dollars for his bicycle.

Le dí veinticinco duros por su bicicleta.

For months at a time we did not see him.

Por meses enteros no le habíamos visto.

They set fire to the house for fun.

Por burla pegaron fuego a la casa.

We could not see the house for the smoke.

No podíamos ver la casa por el humo.

5. EXERCISES

(a) 1. La señora pregunta por la señorita. 2. Ruéguele que me lo mande. 3. Pídame Vd. todo lo que quiera. 4. ¿Cuándo parte Vd. para Europa? 5. Para su edad es un muchacho muy intelligente. 6. No sé contestar a todas las preguntas que me hacen estos chicos. 7. Le dí mi gramática española por su libro de lectura. 8. Para el almuerzo he comprado tocino. 9. Lo hace todo por sus hermanos y no saben agradecérselo. 10. Murió por la patria como yo muriera por ella.

(b) 1. I shall ask them to come and see me in the country. 2. I promised my mother that I would ask you for some of your beautiful roses. 3. Ask the children if they are hungry. 4. I will ask his mother to ask him for it. 5. Shall we ask them to dinner for the day after to-morrow? 6. Will you wait for me while I look for it? (For will you say Quiere Vd.) 7. This is the book father bought for me in London. 8. It is a beautiful book for the price. 9. If it wasn't for the dust, we could see the horses. 10. Some friends have asked me to go to the theater with them this evening. 11. In Spanish they call a typewriter a "machine for writing." 12. They will sing for joy when they receive this news.

LESSON III

6. The verb to have denoting possession is rendered tener. With auxiliary force it is haber.

I used to have it, but I have it no longer.

Lo tenía sí, pero ya no lo tengo más.

He says he has sold it, but I don't know who has bought it.

Dice que lo ha vendido, pero no sé quien lo ha comprado.

(a) To have meaning to cause to be done or made, let, is rendered by hacer followed (1) by a direct infinitive, or (2) by que with the subjunctive of indirect command.

Have them get the trunks down at once.

Hágales bajar los baúles en seguida or Haga Vd. que bajen los baúles.

I like this book very much. I will have the children read it.

Me gusta mucho este libro. Haré que lo lean los niños.

He has had a new house built for his newly married daughter.

Ha hecho construir una nueva casa para su hija recién casada.

(b) To have to denoting necessity or compulsion is translated tener que, which is followed by the infinitive.

It is raining torrents. We shall have to stay here till it stops.

Llueve a cántaros. Tendremos que quedarnos aquí hasta que deje de llover.

I can't go with you because I have to study some lessons.

No puedo acompañarle porque tengo que estudiar unas lecciones.

(c) To have on, be wearing, is rendered tener puesto, or by llevar or vestir. Puesto is an adjective and agrees in gender and number with the thing worn.

She has on a simple dress and over her shoulders a wide black lace scarf.

Viste un traje sencillo y trae sobre los hombros un amplio velo negro de encaje.—LOS QUINTERO.

They all had their hats on when they came out.

Al salir todos tenían puestos los sombreros.

7. English to be to expressing futurity coupled with a vague necessity is rendered haber de followed by the infinitive.

I have read in the papers that the president is to visit the city.

He leído en los diarios que el presidente ha de visitar la ciudad.

The teacher told us that we were to finish that lesson.

El maestro nos dijo que hubiéramos de acabar aquella lección.

8. EXERCISES

(a) 1. Aquel día había de ser glorioso para el país. 2. Yo quiero que nadie tenga noticia de nuestra conferencia. 3. Quien lo haya quebrado tendrá que remendarlo. 4. Me había ido, pero he vuelto porque tengo que hablarle a Vd. 5. Pues ya no has de ver más a Paquita. Ella se casa. 6. Lo compré esta mañana y han de entregármelo mañana. 7. Tengo que subir al palomar para dar de comer a mis palomitas. 8. Ha mandado hacer un vestido nuevo para su hijita. 9. Celebro tener el gusto de conocer a Vd. 10. Tengo una viva satisfacción en haber conocido a Vd. 11. Dígales Vd. que me traigan pronto lo que les he pedido. 12. Tendrán que acostarse en cuanto lleguen.

(b) 1. This strap is good for nothing (worth nothing). I had it in my hand and it broke. 2. The trunks will have to be at the station at three o'clock. 3. What dress are you going to wear on the train? The one that I have on. 4. Have a new strap made when you return. 5. We are to wait for them here. They have gone to look for the others. 6. The teacher had the pupil read the lesson aloud. 7. You will have to go with us because we don't know the way. 8. She had on a pair of white gloves that I had given her. 9. I am to tell her that he has broken the whip that she had made for him for his birthday. 10. I will have the letter written at once.

LESSON IV

9. The English since as a preposition is translated desde; as an adverb it is rendered desde entonces or desde aquel tiempo, literally, since then and since that time. As a conjunction of time it is desde que, and as a conjunction of cause it is ya que, puesto que, or visto que (cf. English seeing that).

I have not seen him since yesterday.

No le he visto desde ayer.

He left the city last year and I have not seen him since.

Partió de la ciudad el año pasado y no le he visto desde entonces.

I have not seen him since he left the city.

No le he visto desde que partió de la ciudad.

I will speak to him once more since you desire it.

Le hablaré una vez más ya que Vd. lo desea.—LOS QUINTERO.

10. The verb to go is ir or irse, the reflexive form being used when to be is not followed by a complementary infinitive or by a prepositional phrase denoting direction. To go away may be translated irse, marcharse, or partir.

Now I am going to explain it to you.

Ya se lo voy a explicar.

I am going now. Do you want to go with me?

Ya me voy. ¿Quiere Vd. acompañarme?

We are going to the country to spend a few days.

Vamos al campo a pasar unos pocos días.

(a) To go in or into, up, down, through, are translated entrar (en), subir, bajar, pasar por, the preposition being included in the meaning of the verb except that en and por are used with entrar and pasar when the object of the verb is expressed.

Did you go into the house? Yes, we went in. We also went upstairs and went through all the rooms.

¿Entraron Vds. en la casa? Sí, entramos. También subimos la escalera y pasamos por todas las habitaciones.

(b) To go out has two translations, salir, to leave, and apagarse, to be extinguished.

They have all gone out to take a walk.

Todos han salido a dar un paseo.

All of a sudden all the lights in the house went out.

De repente se apagaron todas las luces en la casa.

(c) To go on, continue, is rendered continuar or seguir.

He went on talking as if he had not seen me.

Siguió (continuó) hablando como si no me hubiera visto.

(d) To go to bed is rendered acostarse; to go to sleep, dormirse.

I can't go to sleep when I go to bed so early.

No puedo dormirme cuando me acuesto tan temprano.

Many other translations of to go may be obtained by paraphrasing. So, to go back, return, volver; to go into, investigate, investigar; to go by, judge by, juzgar por, etc.

11. EXERCISES

(a) 1. Me voy un rato con este amigo. 2. Ya se apagó el fuego. 3. Todos quedaron menos él, que se fué en seguida. 4. Puesto que llueve a cántaros no salimos esta mañana. 5. Ya es hora de volver, ¿no? 6. Nos iremos mañana si hace buen tiempo. 7. No hemos recibido noticias de ellos desde que se fueron. 8. Entonces vimos que los niños se habían dormido. 9. Siguen riendo y charlando mientras esperan la llegada de los otros. 10. Tráeme acá un fósforo. Se me ha apagado la lámpara.

(b) 1. Since I can't come to see you, I ask you to come to see me. 2. I lent him my fountain pen last week and I have not seen it since. 3. I am sleepy, but I can't go to sleep. 4. Go back at once! The others have all gone. 5. Don't go out until you see them go in. 6. It is very cold in this room since the fire went out. 7. I shall go on making preparations for their visit. 8. It was so warm in the room that we almost went to sleep. 9. He is ill and has had to go to bed. He hasn't been well since he came home. 10. Are you going now? Well, I will go with you.

LESSON V

Mientras uno es joven, siempre hay esperanza de mejorar la fortuna.[5]—PALACIO VALDÉS.

12. English long is usually rendered largo, but in expressions of time it is often translated mucho.

This is the longest street in the city. We lived here for a long time.

Esta es la calle más larga de la ciudad. Vivimos aquí por mucho tiempo.

I have not seen them for a long time.

No los he visto desde hace mucho tiempo.

Note.—When a phrase expressing duration of time introduced by for is equivalent to since ... ago, for is translated desde hace.

(a) The phrase to be long (in), followed by a verbal in -ing, expressed or understood, is rendered tardar (en), followed by an infinitive expressed or understood.

Have patience! You will not be long in learning how to do it.

¡Ten paciencia! No tardarás en aprender a hacerlo.

You go now. I will follow.—All right, but don't be long.

Vete ahora. Yo te seguiré.—Bueno, pero no tardes.

—PÉREZ GALDÓS.

(b) Tardar en may also be used to translate the expression before long.

They will be back before long.

No tardarán en volver.

(c) The adverbial phrases no longer, any longer are translated ya no.

I wonder why they are so long. I can't wait any longer.

¿Por qué tardarán tanto? Ya no puedo esperar más.

(d) The conjunctive phrase as long as is rendered mientras.

As long as it was raining we could not go out.

Mientras llovía no podíamos salir.

13. The word before as an adverb is rendered antes; as a conjunction, antes que; as a preposition of time, antes de; as a preposition of place, it is rendered delante de or ante, the latter being used especially with the meaning of in the presence of.

I had never done that before.

No había hecho eso antes.

Before he went away he said that he would be back before long.

Antes que se fué me dijo que no tardaría en volver.

Before taking it you ought to have spoken to me.

Antes de cogerla debió usted hablar conmigo.

—PÉREZ GALDÓS.

He wanted to appear before them as a millionaire.

Quería presentarse delante de ellos como millonario.

—BLASCO IBÁÑEZ.

They look at the gypsy who stops before them.

Miran al húngaro que se para ante ellos.—MARTÍNEZ SIERRA.

Note.—Antes also translates English formerly.

14. The verb to know, meaning to be acquainted with, is conocer; otherwise to know and to know how are rendered saber.

I know the family, but I don't know where they live.

Conozco a la familia, pero no sé donde viven.

I know how to sew, I know how to cook, I know how to wash clothes.

Yo sé coser, yo sé guisar, yo sé lavar la ropa.—LOS QUINTERO.

Note.—Conocer also translates English to make the acquaintance of.

15. EXERCISES

(a) 1. No sé como he vivido tanto tiempo con ellos. 2. ¡Bien ha tardado Vd. esta noche! 3. ¿Cuánto tiempo espera Vd. pasar aquí? 4. Dígales que yo quiero verlas antes que salgan. 5. No sé leer el español pero conozco las obras de Benavente en traducción. 6. No tardamos en saber lo que había hecho. 7. Antes de escribir los ejercicios tenemos que estudiar las reglas. 8. Antes era rico, ya no lo es. 9. En el abecedario viene la a ante la be. 10. Puesto que no puedo quedarme más tiempo, tendrá Vd. que acabarlo solo.

(b) 1. Do you know the works of Blasco Ibáñez? 2. How long have you been here? 3. I don't know how to describe it to you. 4. I don't know how long he has been ill. 5. Before I speak I want to know how much you know. 6. Do you know this song? Yes, but I don't know how to sing it. 7. Before buying the house he told me that he had known the owner for a long time. 8. Ask him if he knows who has lived in it since. 9. I knew him before he went to live there. 10. I'm sure I shall see him before long.

LESSON VI

16. The English to get has so many different translations in Spanish that it is always advisable to paraphrase it before translating. So: I am going to get (buy) some bread. We are going to get (fetch or bring) our books. He gets (receives) his money here. The lion got out (escaped). We got back (arrived, returned) this morning. It gets (grows, becomes) dark early. In such examples as the last, however, the alternatives are also verbs that present some difficulty in translations: and many of the compounds of get and a preposition must be learned literally.

He got (obtained) what he wanted.

Obtuvo lo que quería.

There is no more sugar. I shall have to go and get some.

No hay más azúcar. Tendré que ir a comprar más.

Have you sent the boy to get the car?

¿Ha mandado usted al mozo a traer el automóvil?

I get a letter from home every Tuesday.

Recibo carta de casa todos los martes.

There was a fire at the Zoölogical Gardens yesterday and a lion got out (away).

Hubo incendio en los jardines zoológicos ayer y se escapó un león.

(a) To get meaning to grow or become is translated ponerse or hacerse, the former indicating a temporary change of state, the latter a more permanent one.

She gets very cross if she has to wait for us.

Se pone muy enojada (enfadada) si tiene que esperarnos.

He got rich quickly, but his methods couldn't be admired.

Se hizo rico pronto, pero sus métodos no podían admirarse.

(b) To get along with, speaking of persons, may be rendered entenderse con, or congeniar con: when the object is a thing, the translation is servirse de. To get along without is translated pasarse sin.

He doesn't get along very well with his oldest brother.

No se entiende muy bien con su hermano mayor.

I shall have to get along with this knife since there is no other.

Tendré que servirme de este cuchillo puesto que no hay otro.

I get along without a laundress now that my daughter is at home.

Yo me paso sin lavandera ya que está en casa mi hija.

(c) To get into and out of vehicles are rendered subir a and bajar de.

They get out of one automobile and into another.

Bajaron de un automóvil y subieron a otro.

(d) To get out of the way may be rendered apartarse del camino or quitarse de en medio.

You know that to me she is always at home. Get out of the way!

Sabe Vd. que para mí siempre está. ¡Quítese de en medio!

—TOMAYO Y BAUS.

(e) To get up, rise, is rendered levantárse or ponerse de pie.

I got up very, very early this morning.

Esta mañana me levanté muy de madrugada.

When the teacher spoke to the pupil the latter got up.

Cuando habló el maestro al discípulo se puso de pie éste.

17. EXERCISES

(a) 1. El coche se detuvo delante de la puerta y bajaron dos señores. 2. Primero tenemos que apartar del camino este montón de piedras. 3. Se levantó Vd. tarde hoy. 4. Queremos deshacernos de nuestro viejo automóvil. 5. Los tejados se ponen blancos. 6. Las abejas sacan la miel de las flores. 7. No se sabe como han logrado entrar en la casa los ladrones. 8. Aunque cerramos la puerta con llave lograron salir. 9. Le he mandado a traerme otro cuchillo, porque éste no corta. 10. Baja de este muro en seguida si no quieres caer.

(b) 1. The fruit is getting ripe now. 2. You ought to get rid of the old house before you buy a new one. 3. We shall have to get up early to catch that train. 4. Mother is in the kitchen getting dinner. 5. How dark the sky is getting. I think there will be a storm. 6. As I was getting up this morning my mother called to me and said, "Hurry up, John, I want you to go and get some milk for breakfast." 7. Since there is no ink we shall have to get along with pencils. 8. My parents do not like to get letters written in pencil. 9. That company gets out beautiful illustrated books. 10. He has been ill and has not been able to get out for a long time.

LESSON VII

18. REVIEW EXERCISES

(a) 1. We must not remain longer in this house. 2. I must go and I will go. But, where? Who knows? 3. If you want to know, ask her. 4. He is here again and he knows that we are in this house. 5. Man, you are right. You must be right sometimes. 6. I am not to blame because he is not here. 7. These are for me, but I will give you these for those. 8. You don't know what you are asking for. 9. He is hungry and cold, but not ashamed. 10. Send the maid to get some vegetables.

(b) 1. Do you know how old he is? 2. How deep is this well? 3. It is not his fault that he has not been successful. 4. Ask them if they are hungry? 5. Father has gone out for a lamp because all the electric lights have gone out. 6. We shall get there before long. 7. Have you ever been here before? Yes, but not for a long time. 8. Mother's going to get me a new hat. 9. This store always closes for an hour at noon. 10. It's a pity this young man does not get along better with his parents. 11. Before you go, go and ask John if he got the tickets for to-night.

LESSON VIII

19. The verb to look or look at is rendered mirar, the at remaining untranslated.

Looking through the window, I saw that my friend was looking at the flowers.

Mirando por la ventana, vi que mi amiga miraba las flores.

(a) To look (as if) is rendered parecer. The impersonal it looks as if may be translated según parece, or por lo visto.

You look very tired. It looks as if you had been working too hard.

Parece Vd. muy cansada. Ha trabajado Vd. demasiado según parece.

It looks as if he had determined to stop our talking.

Parece que se ha propuesto impedirnos hablar.—LOS QUINTERO.

(b) To look for or look up is translated buscar.

I don't know where they went. For my part I'm not looking for them.

Yo no sé a donde iban. Por mi parte no los busco.—JOSÉ MÁRMOL.

20. English little as an adjective of size is rendered pequeño, chico, or menudo.

We have just rented that little house across the street.

Acabamos de alquilar esa casa pequeña al otro lado de la calle.

Are the little folks coming too?

¿Vienen también la gente menuda?

(a) Denoting quantity little is rendered poco.

Why, you went to bed a little after ten!

¡Si te acostaste a poco más de las diez!—RAMOS CARRIÓN.

It is a matter of little importance.

Es asunto de poca importancia.

(b) As an adverb of degree little is rendered poco, algo, or un tanto.

The price is a little high, isn't it? A little, yes.

Es algo subido el precio, ¿no? Un tanto, si.

21. English there as an adverb is translated ahí, allí, or allá, the last being the form used with verbs of motion. Used with a verb that doesn't express motion, allá indicates approximate situation while allí always indicates definite situation.

I wonder where my hat can be. I left it there on the table.

¿Dónde estará mi sombrero? Lo dejé allí en la mesa.

I don't know where he has gone, but he went over there.

No se adónde habrá ido, pero se fué por allá.

(a) There is, there was, there will be, etc., are translated by the various tenses of haber, the verb always being in the singular.