Práctica con "para" (Part One)

[laepelba]

I have been working on learning the different uses for para y por. (I am not asking for help with that - I have found several good resources for that, including here on Tomísimo, thanks to Dave!)

I want to start trying to write more of my own (originally created) sentences so that I can practice using my new palabras in context.

Here are some of the sentences I wrote. More will follow (eventually).
1) Estoy estudiando español para hablar con gente en la Ciudad de México. Voy a visitar allí en mayo.
2) Practico la corneta francesa para tocar mejor.
3) Necesito hablarte para explicar mis comentos.
4) Llevamos placas de nombres para identificarnos como empleados.

Please tell me (a) if the use of "para" is correct here, and (b) if there are any other issues with the sentences of which I need to be aware.

Thank you!!
Lou Ann

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by laepelba

1) Estudio español para hablar con la gente de la Ciudad de México. Voy a visitarla en mayo.
2) Practico la corneta francesa para tocarla mejor.
3) Necesito hablarte para explicar mis comentarios.
4) Llevamos etiquetas con los nombres para identificarnos como empleados.

Correct usage of para all the way!
Other corrections/suggestions above.

[laepelba]

Rusty - going back to your original corrections of my sentences, I have a quick question about #1.

Your version: "1) Estudio español para hablar con la gente de la Ciudad de México. Voy a visitarla en mayo."

So I get the "la" and "de" and even the "visitarla" - I simply need to work on prepositions and pronouns. I know that. But - the software I am using to learn Spanish uses the "estar + gerund" construction quite a bit. It seems to me that to say "Estudio" is to say "I study" and to say "Estoy estudiando" is to say "I am studying". Is it an English-ism to want to say "I am studying Spanish so that I can speak with the people in Mexico when I visit......"? Is it a correct vs. incorrect thing, or is it a so-so vs. more-correct thing? Or am I wrong in my understanding of the estar+gerund thing?

Thanks!

[Rusty]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Estudio español para hablar con la gente de la Ciudad de México. Voy a visitarla en mayo."

... the software I am using to learn Spanish uses the "estar + gerund" construction quite a bit. It seems to me that to say "Estudio" is to say "I study" and to say "Estoy estudiando" is to say "I am studying". Is it an English-ism to want to say "I am studying Spanish ... (This is proper English.)

Estar + gerundio is the present progressive form. This is frequently overused by English speakers (mostly because Spanish courses 'overteach' it).

The present indicative estudio can be translated I study, I do study and I am studying. You will use the present indicative tense much more often than the present progressive.

The present progressive should be used when you are in the very act of doing something, at that precise moment. In other words, you should not say estoy estudiando unless you have book in hand and are interrupted by someone. If annoyed by the interruption, or if you wanted to be left alone, it would be then be appropriate to say estoy estudiando.

[tacuba]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Rusty - going back to your original corrections of my sentences, I have a quick question about #1.

Your version: "1) Estudio español para hablar con la gente de la Ciudad de México. Voy a visitarla en mayo."

So I get the "la" and "de" and even the "visitarla" - I simply need to work on prepositions and pronouns. I know that. But - the software I am using to learn Spanish uses the "estar + gerund" construction quite a bit. It seems to me that to say "Estudio" is to say "I study" and to say "Estoy estudiando" is to say "I am studying". Is it an English-ism to want to say "I am studying Spanish so that I can speak with the people in Mexico when I visit......"? Is it a correct vs. incorrect thing, or is it a so-so vs. more-correct thing? Or am I wrong in my understanding of the estar+gerund thing?

Thanks!

I'm pretty sure I know the software you're using. I tried it a couple of years ago and I found it rather odd that they so heavily emphasize a construction (present progressive) that is used much less frequently in Spanish than in English. It's very noticeable here where I live which English speakers have used this software - they are always saying things like, "estoy leyendo", "estoy estudiando", "estamos viviendo", etc...when most native speakers use the present indicative to convey the same message.

But they do have a very good marketing campaign. I see their commercials on CNN all of the time.

BTW, in our Wednesday market (tianguis), the program sell for 100 pesos (about $7 US).

[Tomisimo]

Another word for name badge would be gafet.

[Rusty]

I would think el gafete is a little more popular. Is this usage isolated to parts of Mexico?

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by Rusty

I would think el gafete is a little more popular. Is this usage isolated to parts of Mexico?

Actually, I haven't seen it in writing, only in spoken language. So it very well may be written gafete while being pronounced /gafet/.

[laepelba]

Would it be "gafetes de nombres"?

[Tomisimo]

Originally Posted by laepelba

Would it be "gafetes de nombres"?

I don't think so. Gafete alone means name badge or name tag.