Llevar + gerundio

[BobRitter]

En una leccion de YABLA

¿Cuánto tiempo llevan intentando vender el piso?
How long have you been trying to sell the apartment?
Caption 41, 75 minutos - Gangas para ricos - Part 12

Compare to: ¿Cuánto tiempo han estado intentando vender el piso? and ¿Cuánto tiempo tienen intentando vender el piso? (which mean exactly the same).

Estoy aprendiendo español así que puede ser (probablemente estoy) equivocado, pero me parece que:
llevan intentando = han estado intentando = tienen intentando = have THEY been trying
lleva intentando = ha estado intentando = tiene intentando = have YOU been trying

Gracias otra vez por su sitio. Me gusta mucho. Bob Ritter, Pensacola, FLorida

[Julvenzor]

Hola, Bob:

En este caso "llevan" hace referencia a la forma plural formal "ustedes", la cual coincide en conjugación con la tercera persona "ellos". Y sí, significa eso mismo que bien intuye. La estructura "llevar + gerundio" se emplea muy comúnmente en sustitución del pretérito compuesto progresivo "haber (conjugado) estado + gerundio". Se utiliza en todos los países.

Por otra parte, quisiera mencionar que "tener + gerundio" puede actuar como equivalente sólo en la región caribeña; en el resto de los países hispanohablantes casi no se entendería.

Si sigue con dudas, no dude en seguir preguntando.

Un saludo cordial.

[aleCcowaN]

han intentado = (generic) they have been in "state of trying" -and trying, of course-
llevan intentando = once and again; one attempt is followed by the other, like waves crashing against the rocks

[AndyP]

I have been studying and trying to understand 'Llevar' and its many uses.

From the above using the 'gerund':-
I have been waiting for your call: He estado esperando tu llamada, Llevo esperando tu llamada
I have been working too much: He estado trabajando demasiado, Llevo trabajando demasiado

Can 'llevar' also be used without a 'gerund' as in the following examples:-
I have been here for a while: He estado aquí por un rato, Llevo aquí por un rato
I have not been home today: No he estado en casa hoy, No llevo en casa hoy
I have been ill: Yo he estado enfermo, Llevo enfermo

Thank you,
Andy

[Rusty]

Caution: a 'gerund' in English is not a 'gerundio' in Spanish.
A gerund always acts as a noun in English grammar.
The equivalent in Spanish would be to use the infinitive.
Me gusta nadar. = I like swimming.

A gerundio, in Spanish grammar, is called a present participle in English grammar. It is used to make the continuous, or progressive forms of a verb. It is also used as an adverb, as in the adverbial phrase below:
Esperando dos días, ... = Waiting two days, ...


Using 'llevar' with a 'gerundio' is a way to express the duration of an action still in progress, as your first examples in your post demonstrate.
It is certainly possible to get the same meaning if you don't use the 'gerundio,' as in 'llevo enfermo, en casa, aquí,' plus a quantity of time.
You can also say 'llevo esperar tu llamada' or '¿Cuánto tiempo lleva esperar una mesa?' but then you're employing the Spanish infinitive instead of the 'gerundio.'

[AndyP]

Thank you for the clear explanation.
As we say in England, 'The penny has dropped'.
Andy

[babymetal]

Originally Posted by AndyP

Thank you for the clear explanation.
As we say in England, 'The penny has dropped'.
Andy

Where do you live in Merseyside?

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I agree with Rusty. I'd just like to add some notes on your examples, Andy.

The verb "llevar" always needs a complement; you need to state what is being carried or taken.
- Llevo a los niños a la escuela.

Although in this case, the verb "llevar" means to have been in the same situation or place for a period of time, the verb still needs the complement, which is the period of time. The verb "llevar" in this context is definitely not a synonym of "estar" and it needs a different construction. The reason why "estar" does not need that complement is because this verb already conveys the notion of remaining or continuing to be in a state or condition.

In your examples:
- I have been waiting for your call: He estado esperando tu llamada.
· Llevo *** (how long?) esperando tu llamada.
-->Llevo horas, días, semanas, meses,... esperando tu llamada.

-I have been working too much: He estado trabajando demasiado.
· Llevo *** trabajando demasiado.
-->Llevo mucho tiempo, varias semanas,... trabajando demasiado.

Originally Posted by AndyP

Can 'llevar' also be used without a 'gerund' as in the following examples: Yes, it can, but not as it is used in your examples.

- I have been here for a while: He estado aquí por un rato.
· Llevo aquí por un rato. We don't use "por", because "un rato" is the natural complement of the verb, as it counts as a time unit.

- I have not been home today: No he estado en casa hoy.
· No llevo en casa hoy. No, you can't use it like this. Since "llevar" is not a synonym of "estar", you definitely can't use it with this meaning. You may say "llevo mucho tiempo sin estar en casa", but it's not the same meaning.

- I have been ill: Yo he estado enfermo.
· Llevo enfermo *** You need to state how long you've been sick.
-->You may say "llevo una semana enfermo", for example.


Some more examples without the "gerundio":

- La universidad lleva siglos enseñando ciencias.
The university has taught sciences for centuries.

- El perro llevaba tres días sin comer.
The dog hadn't eaten for three days.

- La empresa lleva cien días sin accidentes.
The company has worked 100 days with no accidents.

- Mi equipo favorito lleva diez años sin un campeonato.
My favorite team hasn't won a championship for 10 years.


Examples with "gerundio":
- La computadora lleva una eternidad bajando las actualizaciones.
The computerta is taking ages to download the updates.

- Llevo toda la vida esperando a mi príncipe azul.
I've waited my whole life for my Mr. Right.

- El doctor Morales lleva décadas trabajando en el hospital.
Dr. Morales has been working in the hospital for decades.

[AndyP]

Wow, much appreciated for all your explanations.
Thank you again

[AngelicaDeAlquezar]

I hope they're useful.