Breakdown of El vendedor este me intenta engatusar para que compre la vajilla.
comprar
to buy
para
for
que
that / than
me
to me / me (direct object)
Questions & Answers about El vendedor este me intenta engatusar para que compre la vajilla.
Why does this sentence say "El vendedor este" instead of just "Este vendedor"?
Why is the verb "comprar" in the subjunctive form (compre)?
The phrase para que (so that) always requires the subjunctive. It introduces a goal or an intended outcome that hasn't happened yet. Since the salesperson's goal is for the speaker to buy the dishes, comprar becomes the subjunctive compre.
Could I attach the pronoun me to the end of the verb instead of putting it at the beginning?
Yes! When you have a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, you have two options for pronoun placement. You can put it before the conjugated verb (me intenta engatusar) or attach it directly to the infinitive (intenta engatusarme). Both are correct and mean the same thing.
The word engatusar is interesting. What exactly does it imply here?
Engatusar means to coax, cajole, or sweet-talk someone into doing something, usually through flattery. It is related to the word gato (cat), evoking the image of someone acting overly affectionate or purring to get their way.