Pucca  +  491232 Thu, 20 Mar 08 10:35 PM I have no idea how to translate "dar comienzo" into English, would "give start to.." work? Is that English or Spanglish? I want to say something like "When Madrid rose up, it gave start to a war"    - I know, it sounds horrible.. Thanks in advance! Pucca Joined on Sun, Aug 27 2006 Spain Senior Member 2,972

	Feebs11  +  491243 Thu, 20 Mar 08 11:28 PM ??  initiated a war instigated a war  Feebs11 Joined on Thu, Nov 23 2006 UK Veteran Member 5,015

	CalifJim  +  491309 Fri, 21 Mar 08 06:46 AM  In what way did Madrid rise up?  Was it in bed taking a siesta?  to give a start is not English.  How about just to start?   Madrid started a war. Somehow, I don't think that's what you mean, though.  Don't you mean that Madrid's actions [caused / gave rise to / led to] a war?  CJ  CalifJim Joined on Mon, Aug 2 2004 California Veteran Member 22,428 "There are no facts, only interpretations" - Nietzsche

	Pucca  +  491439 Fri, 21 Mar 08 02:50 PM Thank you for the answers! CJ - A siesta? I was trying to translate something into English. I thought that "to rise up" meant "sublevarse"   - You know Spanish, don't you?    I wanted to say "El levantamiento de Madrid dio comienzo a la guerra de la independencia.."   Pucca

	Grammar Geek  +  491463 Fri, 21 Mar 08 04:12 PM The rising of Madrid started the war for independence? The elevation of Madrid's status sparked the war for independence? Grammar Geek Joined on Tue, Jan 10 2006 Veteran Member 19,679 Barbara, who answers in American English. My housekeeping skills attest to the truth of the second law of thermodynamics: Left to themselves, things get more and more random!

	Tanit  +  491469 Fri, 21 Mar 08 04:18 PM Maybe the uprising or the insurrection of Madrid? Tanit Joined on Mon, Jul 31 2006 Senior Member 3,034 There is no greater pain than to remember a happy time when one is in misery. (Dante)

	Tanit  +  491470 Fri, 21 Mar 08 04:21 PM Does that mean that Madrid's uprising/insurrection made the independence war start? Tanit

	CalifJim  +  491486 Fri, 21 Mar 08 05:00 PM Pucca “El levantamiento de Madrid dio comienzo a la guerra de la independencia..” I would translate this as The war for independence began with the Madrid uprising.  (You can substitute of for for.  You can substitute started for began.  You can substitute insurrection for uprising.) or The uprising in Madrid set off the war of independence. The Madrid uprising set the war of independence into motion.  I'm sure there are other possibilities, and both the style and other text before and after this sentence might also affect your choices, but that's the basic idea. CJ  CalifJim Before and After