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Al + infinitive usage

 

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  #1  
Old May 13, 2009, 04:07 PM
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Al + infinitive usage

Is this sentence correct?
Leo una revista al escuchar la música.
I read a magazine while listening to music.
Or is using mientras better?
Leo una revista mientras escucho la música.

Should al + infinitive only be used as we use upon?
Upon looking out of the skyscraper's window, I realize that I am afraid of heights.
Al mirar por la ventana del rascacielos, me doy cuenta que tengo vértigo.
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  #2  
Old May 13, 2009, 04:11 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmon View Post
Is this sentence correct?
Leo una revista al escuchar la música.
I read a magazine while listening to music.
Or is using mientras better?
Leo una revista mientras escucho la música.

Should al + infinitive only be used as we use upon?
Upon looking out of the skyscraper's window, I realize that I am afraid of heights.
Al mirar por la ventana del rascacielos, me doy cuenta que tengo vértigo.
Be careful.

I read a magazine while listening to music. = Leo una revista mientras (estoy escuchando) escucho la música.


Leo una revista al escuchar la música. = I read a magazine as I listen to the music.
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  #3  
Old May 14, 2009, 01:31 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmon View Post
Should al + infinitive only be used as we use upon?
Yes, I would agree with that statement. "Upon" or "On".
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  #4  
Old May 14, 2009, 02:02 PM
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Hecho café al llego a trabajar todos las días. (o necesito usar "estoy llegando"?)
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  #5  
Old May 14, 2009, 02:05 PM
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Hecho café al llego a trabajar todos las días. (o necesito usar "estoy llegando"?)
Hago café al llegar al trabajo todos los días.
I make coffee when I get to work every day.

The "al" is followed by an infinitive.
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  #6  
Old May 14, 2009, 02:41 PM
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Originally Posted by Tomisimo View Post
Hago café al llegar al trabajo todos los días.
I make coffee when I get to work every day.

The "al" is followed by an infinitive.
Bah, you mean I have to actually pay attention to things? (Thread title is clearly 'Al + Infinitive'. That part was masterfully hidden ).

And I always mix up "hecho" and "hago", because you see the former more (on product packaging) and has a deceptive false-yo-form ending.

Gracias.
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  #7  
Old May 14, 2009, 02:49 PM
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¡Llamé la Policia al encontrar la cadáver!

That any better?
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  #8  
Old May 14, 2009, 03:28 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cmon View Post
Is this sentence correct?
Leo una revista al escuchar la música.
I read a magazine while listening to music.
Or is using mientras better?
Leo una revista mientras escucho la música.

Should al + infinitive only be used as we use upon?
Upon looking out of the skyscraper's window, I realize that I am afraid of heights.
Al mirar por la ventana del rascacielos, me doy cuenta que tengo vértigo.
Just I made a little corrections in your post.

In the second one, I don't understand very well the English.
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  #9  
Old May 14, 2009, 04:14 PM
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I am afraid of heights=tengo vértigo o tengo miedo a las alturas.
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  #10  
Old May 14, 2009, 05:45 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fazor View Post
¡Llamé la Policia al encontrar la cadáver!

That any better?
Better indeed, Fazor... Macabre, but correct. Just a small correction:

Llamé a la policía al encontrar el cadáver.
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