Translation - Bara inte vakterna hörde dem. (Swedish)

Hi Pia,
Is there any misspelling here?

CC: pias

No, no misspellings, but I think it's hard to find a translation for "Bara inte". A literal translation would be "Just not" ... but that might sound weird in English.(?)

The meaning for this sentence is: "(I) hope the guards didn't/ never heard them". "I" could as well be: He/she/they or whoever it was

Maybe Lena or Pia can help?

CC: lenab Piagabriella

Could it be:

"Let's hope the guards didn't hear them"?

It's about something that happened in the past, a wish that the guards never heard them. But YES "Let´s" sounds right to me.

I don't agree that it must have happened in the past. It could be wished for in present time, when someone is looking ahead.

If only the guards didn't hear them,("everything would be fine" or something)

But... "hörde" is past tense of "höra".

Anyway I think your beginnig "If only" is perfect

Aye.. you are right Lena, it could be wished for in present time, but the wish is for something that must have happened

I mean, They don't know if the guards heard them, but they wish they didn't. That's how I interpret the text anyway.

Well, I rather see it as a subjunctive after a wish.

OK, but "hörde" can never be future. In that case it must be PAST subjunctive, right?

Hej sprakportalen

Som du ser så pågår en diskussion hurvida meningen handlar om något som redan hänt eller om något som ligger i framtiden, svårt att avgöra med så lite text. Vore bra om du klargör det hela.

No further reply from the requester, Lena or Pia... so don't know what to do here I guess since Lena is an English teacher -her words has to be the most trustable (even if I don't interpret the Swedish text the same way)

Hi Pia. Popping in as usual. Why not 'Just wish that the guards did not hear them'.

Don't know Lene. I think Lena found a good start for the sentence. But you are right- that's in some way implicit in "bara inte" -a wish. What I don't agree with is the present tense "hear". Anyway... since the requester don't seem to care, I wonder why we do?

Thanks for popping in

Hi Pia. Is 'did not hear' a present tense? I thougt it was a past tense as we have 'didn't', but you make me confused about it know??

Lene

I'm not an English expert, but I thought "hear" was an irregular verb and the simple past would be "never heard them". Never thought about that "didn't"... sorry, guess I've to stand in the corner now. Im the confused one. Not you!

No Pia. Don't be confused. When we have one thing on the mind we don't notice what's left.
It often happens to me.

You always try to support/ comfort Lene!!
THANKS

Ok, ladies...have you reached an agreement about the most suitable bridge for this line?
Or...do you think we should post Rule #7?

Never mind present or past, the translation could be If only/Let's hope/Lets pray/Let's wish - the guards didn't hear them.
"Hörde" is past tense OR subjunctive after a wish.(jfr. Bara du inte VORE så arg...)
But in English it has to be :"didn't hear them"

agree with Lena.