I answered " Do the women speak English or Spanish?" I got it wrong! DL suggested that I use "ladies" instead of "women". Seriously?

How do you know it is not "Are the women speaking English or Spanish" instead of "Do the women...."

The comments on this and some other topics show some basic flaws in this approach: (1) This is not an English course. Yet the user interface is in English. (2) This is not a translation course. But for most questions the students are asked to translate an English text into Spanish or re-write Spanish sentences in English. The problems are obvious. I don't know what percentage of the people using this course are fluent in English. Shortcomings on that side may make it difficult to accomplish the task. Translating a text means that you first need to understand the meaning. Then you put that meaning into the target language, preserving the style and level of formality or informality. That may mean that the structure of the original sentence changes.

But that is not how duolingo works. You are expected to translate the original text almost word for word. I have noticed that even moving the word "sometimes" (a veces) from the end to the middle of a sentence upsets the system. So, now I stick to word for word translation. I have also learned to use American terms instead of British English. I also pay attention to what preposition I am expected to use. I'm learning how to please the system - and I may even learn some Spanish in the process.

So, unless you know of a better free course, keep your head down and do as the Big Brother says.

So I wrote "are the ladies speaking english or spanish?" Why is that wrong?

I know I was born in the stone age, but surely there is still a clear difference in the meanings of "ladies" and "women". To me, it is on the same level as the difference between, "Excuse me, sir", and "Hey, you!"

'Ladies' is used in the UK but is really becoming seen as a bit quaint. Most of the time people would say 'women'

I said "do the ladies talk in english or spanish?", but got it wrong... what is the difference between talk and speak?

Are the ladies speaking English or Spanish? Is the correct response.

I interchanged English and español, nos I am incorrect

¿O ambos?

A consistent problem with Duolingo. Questions are not asked as questions (go back an listen to the audio). This sentence is "The ladies speak English or Spanish." The problem is amplified because there is no consistency to subject-verb placement in Spanish. Ugh. [and while we're at it, I read this as "Ladies speak English or Spanish" and not "THE ladies"]

Am i missing something? Do the women speak English or Spanish? Was marked as incorrect.

I put "Are the ladies speaking English or Spanish?" And it was marked wrong. Just out of curiosity, how would you say "Are the ladies speaking English or Spanish?" In Spanish. Let me know. I feel like owl hunting tonight.

why is the term "ladies" different from "women"? They both mean the same

how would you make the statement (not a question) "the ladies speak English or Spanish?

Las is definite article for Femlaes and Los is for Males, Right? Do we have for neuter?

Are the ladies speaking english or spanish....marked wrong....why?

I would say "ladies" is patronising rather than "quaint", however it is useful to know what the most direct translation is, particularly if that informs what you might want to avoid

i thought senorita was a lady/woman not senora??

I answered, "Do you ladies speak English or Spanish" and got it wrong.

In other questions. Are speaking, they use hablan. So why was my answer wrong. (Are the women speaking English or Spanish?)

"Does the ladies" is marked wrong, why?

Prevoiusly you always used Madam for Señora

In the drop down and was an option. Speak English and Spanish was a MUCH BETTER CHOICE than speak English or Spanish. Geez Duo.

If senoras is ladies then what is senoritas

I would just like it when i am following the instructions and i get it write and its gets marked wrong and I look at the correct answer it is the same as my answer that was marked wrong.

i put do the ladies speak spanish or english and it told me I was wrong

What I put us exactly what comes up, what is the problem?

I said "do the ladies speak Spanish or English" and it said it should have been "do the ladies speak English or Spanish?"

Cant see.my answer...fix it

I got it incorrect when I put "Do ladies speak English of Spanish?"

I decided to say you ladies since hablan would be the formal form ..

I used lady's what's wrong

Why is "Do those ladies..." incorrect?

That is exactly what I wrote, but it was marked incorrect

I am tired of trying to decipher what this woman is saying. If Duoling want us to learn Spanish they should at least employ someone who speaks clearly. I can always tell what the man is saying.

speak or talk... isn't it the same?

The word "ladies" in Spanish is different than the word "women" - a woman of fine bearing or good manners and education is a lady or "señora"

It's like the word madam or sir in English.

All ladies are women, but not all women are ladies.

It sounds like la señora - please speak clearly for the students

Ppppp pkpopppppppppppppppppĺppppppppp8ppllllplplpplplpppppppppp4ppp

Weird, when I wrote "do the girls speak English or Spanish" DuoLingo told me I was wrong and advised: " Do the gals speak English or Spanish?"

This could be a polite way (somewhat servile) of saying "do you...".

Is there any real difference: the ladies, do they speak English or Spanish and the translation above?

The voice did not make this sound at all like a question.

I too wrote women....

ikrr

As

i put do the ladies speak spanish or english and it was marked wrong. said correct translation is do the ladies speak english or spanish. i reported it

Do the women speak English or Spanish? Seriously! I got this wrong! Burn the Word to Hell!