Nevar - How do I snow?

[bleitzow]

Hi again!

I am wondering why there is a conjugated verb "to snow". How do "I snow", "you snow", "they snow". I can understand "it snows", but I don't understand how I would use the other words.

Thanks!

[Tomisimo]

Certainly it wouldn't be very common usage, but how about if you were writing a children's story, and the main character was the sky.... The dialog could go:

The sky was discussing her plans for tomorrow with one of the passing clouds, and said: I think I will snow tonight.

Or maybe it could be someone with really bad dandruff, speaking in a metaphor "I'm snowing"

In Spanish, it certainly wouldn't be common, but the verb can still be conjugated in all the persons/numbers.

yo nievo
tu nievas
etc..

I hope that helps.

[poli]

Language is a machine, and verbs all carry the same function in the basic construction of a language. Sometimes, because of the meaning of the verb, its function seems absurd. Gramatically and functionally, verbs are bonafide in all tenses. It really becomes complicated in the auxiliary verbs like haber.

poli

[Elaina]

Es cierto (es un "intransitive verb) pero con una diferencia........la conjugacion sería....

yo nevo
tu nevas
el neva
nosotros nevamos
ellos nevan


Elaina

[Tomisimo]

I've actually asked quite a few native speakers about the verb nevar, and off hand I'd say it's about a 50/50 split, some saying neva or nieva (it's snowing), that's when they are forced to use the simple present. Usually they prefer está nevando or está cayendo nieve. Even dictionaries and reference works are in disagreement. Harper Collins unabridged dictionary 5th ed. states that never is conjugated like cerrar (cierro, cierras, cerramos).

Also, nevar can be used as a transitive and intransitive verb.

[sosia]

I can only use it like "hacer nevar" "hizo que nevase"
Other use is as adjective "Los papeles de propaganda nevaron sobre la ciudad", "los pensamientos felices nievan sobre las casas afortunadas" but it's a little forced.


Greetings.

[WMX]

Sosia, how would you say "It's snowing"? Neva, or nieva?

[sosia]

El niño abrió la ventana y gritó feliz ¡esta nevando! mientras veía los copos caer.