Use of 'Están'

lyla · #1 February 18, 2010, 12:46 PM

Hi everyone...

In this picture, we have a man and woman eating lunch and one of those 'speaking' bubbles emerging out of his head that says:

Hoy es Lunes. Estan almorzando

Which I would think is: Today is Monday. We are having lunch.

When I go to the Dictionary Search and look up Estar and then choose conjugate 'to be', it shows as 'estamos' for we...not estan.

Which is correct? Or is there something 'deeper' here and I'm about to go chasing down another rabbit hole.

Thanks a lot!!!!

irmamar · #2 February 18, 2010, 01:04 PM

If they are speaking, they should say: "estamos almorzando". But maybe, as you're not in the picture, the author say: "están almorzando".

chileno · #3 February 18, 2010, 01:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyla

Hi everyone...

In this picture, we have a man and woman eating lunch and one of those 'speaking' bubbles emerging out of his head that says:

Hoy es Lunes. Estan almorzando

Which I would think is: Today is Monday. We are having lunch.

When I go to the Dictionary Search and look up Estar and then choose conjugate 'to be', it shows as 'estamos' for we...not estan.

Which is correct? Or is there something 'deeper' here and I'm about to go chasing down another rabbit hole.

Thanks a lot!!!!

Have you entertained the thought it could be "they are having lunch/lunching?

lyla · #4 February 18, 2010, 01:23 PM

Well, I didn't because of the 'speaking bubble'. If I was just looking at the picture without the bubble that's what I would think, but with the bubble I thought it would be 'we'. Isn't that right?

chileno · #5 February 18, 2010, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by irmamar

If they are speaking, they should say: "estamos almorzando". But maybe, as you're not in the picture, the author says: "están almorzando".

Quote:

Originally Posted by lyla

Well, I didn't because of the 'speaking bubble'. If I was just looking at the picture without the bubble that's what I would think, but with the bubble I thought it would be 'we'. Isn't that right?

Correct. In any event, you always have to be aware of mistakes like that, and obviate them. A good exercise if you ask me!

lyla · #6 February 18, 2010, 01:39 PM

One down...who knows how many to go...at least I got this one. Thanks so much!

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Use of 'Están'

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