In the City Review and Quiz

What time do the chickens get up according to the phrase?

Choose the best Spanish equivalent:

1. Las gallinas levantan a las cinco de la mañana.
2. Las gallinas os levantan a las cinco de la mañana.
3. Las gallinas les levantan a las cinco de la mañana.
4. Las gallinas se levantan a las cinco de la mañana.

Answer:

The correct Spanish equivalent is 'Las gallinas se levantan a las cinco de la mañana.'

In Spanish, reflexive verbs are used to express actions that the subject does to or for itself. In this case, the phrase 'The chickens get up at 5:00 a.m.' is translated as 'Las gallinas se levantan a las cinco de la mañana.' This indicates that the chickens are getting up by themselves at 5:00 a.m.

It's interesting to learn how reflexive verbs work in different languages, allowing us to express actions in a more nuanced way. By using the reflexive pronoun 'se,' the sentence conveys the idea that the chickens are performing the action of getting up on their own.

Understanding these subtleties in language helps us appreciate the intricacies of communication and how words can convey specific meanings depending on their structure and context.