Quote:
Originally Posted by SPX
Yes, that's helpful. Thanks.
So if "afeito" can be used for I'm shaving, what about. . .
I'm reading. . .? Or I'm walking. . .?
Consider: "I'm walking to the store." Estoy caminando a la tienda. Would it still be correct to say, "Camino a la tienda"? If not, why not?
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Yes, but...
In English, we use "to be X-ing" in more than one way:
1. What are you doing right now? I'm walking to the store.
2. What are you doing tomorrow? I'm walking to the store
In Spanish:
1. ¿Qué haces/estás haciendo? Camino/estoy caminando a la tienda.
2. ¿Qué haces mañana? Camino a la tienda.
The first one is about what is happening right now. In this context one can use either the continuous or the simple present. In some contexts using the simple present is ambiguous and one normally chooses the continuous when one wants to be clear about the action happening right now.
The second one is about a future event, something that isn't right now. Here the continuous in English or the simple present in Spanish functions as an alternative to the future (What will you do tomorrow? I will go to the store. = ¿Qué harás
(or vas a hacer
) mañana? Iré
(or voy a ir
) a la tienda.) In this context in English the simple present is forbidden as an alternative to the future, but in Spanish only the simple present is permitted and the continuous is forbidden.