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Gerunds and Present ParticiplesThis is the place for questions about conjugations, verb tenses, adverbs, adjectives, word order, syntax and other grammar questions for English or Spanish. |
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#1
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A good example of how much I'm learning about English grammar as I study the Spanish.....
So this morning I've been reading about verbs. The book that I picked up starts (page 1) with "present participles in English". Hmmm, present participle. I didn't really know, exactly, what that is. Keep reading, Lou Ann. ![]() So, here's what I've learned ... and it is EXTREMELY helpful. In English, we have "gerunds" and "present participles". They are verbs ending in "-ing". Gerunds are when these -ing verbs are used as nouns. The present participles are when they are used (1) progressively, (2) modifying a noun/verb/clause. (My problem was that, up until now, I always thought that all verbs ending in "-ing" were gerunds ... now I know!) Examples in English: Gerund: Reading is good. Participle used progressively: I am reading right now. Participle modifying a noun: Today is a good reading day. In Spanish, I NOW see that the parallel to the English gerund, you use the infinitive: Leer es bueno. And, in Spanish, the participle is used as follows: Estoy leyendo. The first of my other two examples: Estoy leyendo. How would you translate the second? ![]() But I'm still having a bit of trouble finding the similar constructions for the participle uses in Spanish. It doesn't seem to be only the -ando and -iendo endings for present participles, right? How else does that work? ![]() ¡Gracias de antemano!
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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#2
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I'll have a shot at Hoy es un día bueno para leer. ![]() |
#3
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So, would you please give me English and Spanish examples of reading/leer used as a participle? Thanks!!
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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I was typing from my phone earlier, so it was difficult to answer as I would have liked. The irony was actually not intended.
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Anyway - let me take another stab at some examples of uses of present participles in English and Spanish, using some of what about.com has.... I am eating popcorn. Estoy comiendo palomitas de maíz. By arriving early, I can practice my music for a few minutes. Llegando más temprano, puedo practicar la música para unos pocos minutos. Talking is my favorite activity. Hablar es mi actividad favorita. I will sit in the waiting-room while you see the doctor. Voy a sentarme en la sala de espera mientras ves el médico. I am staying home tomorrow. It's my day off. Voy a quedarme en casa mañana. Es un día de vacación. How'd I do?
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
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I'd love to hear from someone on the Spanish......... (Thanks for your help with this, Perikles - you tend to answer questions the way I need!)
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! |
#8
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"Sigue" is correct (segue
![]() And "vacaciones" is always plural. Mañana es festivo o es día de fiesta. ![]() |
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Whether they are grammatically correct, that remains to be seen. ![]() |
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So, if it's not really a day of parties (well, some might party, but not everyone) ... it's just a day off of work because it's Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. It's kind of like when we have President's Day holiday - it's just a day off of work in honor of the birthdays of several US presidents. Is it still called festivo o es día de fiesta?
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- Lou Ann, de Washington, DC, USA Específicamente quiero recibir ayuda con el español de latinoamerica. ¡Muchísimas gracias! Last edited by laepelba; January 17, 2010 at 12:37 PM. Reason: DOH!! |
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