[6.8] =no se diga= 'there's no denying it,' 'there's no use talking.' =Decir= is used in several exclamatory or semi-exclamatory expressions where a different verb would often be employed in English. Attention will be called to other examples. [7.1] =Fulanito... Menganito.= =Fulano= regularly corresponds to So-and-So, John Doe, etc. If a second name is desired, =Mengano= or =Zutano= is used. The diminutive can scarcely be translated. [7.2] =cómo se va avispando= 'how clever he is getting.' In progressive tenses, =ir= emphasizes, more strongly than =estar=, continuity of action. [7.3] =tonterías.= Contrary to English usage, abstract nouns are often put in the plural. Translations of such forms are suggested in various ways in the vocabulary. [7.4] =¿Qué iba yo a cambiar...?= 'What was I going to change in a saint [if I married one]?' _i.e._ 'What could I change?' The conditional of =poder= would be an obvious conventional form, but the imperfect indicative and the verb =ir= add strength to the question; cf. the English 'What are you going to do about it?' [7.5] =de gran espectáculo, con mutaciones.= Pepe borrows from theatrical language to describe vividly the kind of husband for whom Luisa professes admiration. [7.6] =me parece.= See page 5, note 6. [7.7] =Si yo no tengo secretos= 'Why, I haven't any secrets.' =Si= is often to be translated by 'why,' 'well,' or 'of course,' expressive of surprise or expostulation. A clause is suppressed for brevity. The full form would be something like this--=Si yo no tengo secretos... ¿cómo quieres que te lo diga?= [7.8] =formal.= Used by Luisa to mean 'real,' 'genuine'; Pepe pretends to take it in its sense of 'serious' or 'sensible.' [7.9] =Digo= 'I mean.' See page 6, note 8. [8.1] =pareció.= According to strict rule, the preterit tense may indicate any definite past action, even if it took place only a moment ago. However, for actions so recent that they almost touch the present, the perfect (_e.g._ =ha parecido=) is the common tense. The preterit, when sparingly and skilfully applied, adds variety and vigor to the phrase. It is especially preferred in describing something inevitable. The English translation requires the perfect (_e.g._ 'has appeared') or (occasionally) even the present. [8.2] =quieras que no= 'whether you like it or not.' The full form is =que quieras o que no quieras=; =que quieras que no= and =quieras o no quieras= are also found. Ramsey, § 940, says: "The alternative expressions made by the subjunctive used independently may be regarded as modifications of the imperative, in which the thing commanded is so indeterminate that they are mere general permissions." See also, §§ 941, 942. [8.3] =orejita.= See page 6, note 7. [8.4] =la tienes.= A frequent conversational substitute for =estar=, which here would give =está cantando=.