lesson 1.13 choirs: dusting and vacuuming

Question

Do they not have single words (verb forms) for dusting and vacuuming?

I see that the phrase for dusting in Spanish is: quitar el polvo which literally translated means remove the dust and for vacuuming it is pasar la aspiradora which literally translated means pass the vacuum.

In English, we have two words for each, dust (noun), or dust/dusting (verb), vacuum (noun) or vacuum/vacuuming (verb)

So do they not have verb forms for these nouns? Must you always say the phrase this way: quitar el polvo and pasar la aspiradora ?

(It would sound funny in English to say I'm going to "remove the dust" or "pass the vacuum".)

Rachel

Answer 1

English is unusually flexible (compared to other languages) about creating verbs/adjectives out of nouns or nouns out of verbs. Most languages resort to some sort of periphrasis in such cases.

• heh. I didn't know that! Thank you. - RachelC Sep 13, 2009
• Indeed sam, so true! - Heidita Sep 13, 2009

Answer 2

Well it is not like vacuum or dust are real verbs in English. We just force them to be verbs by ending/usage.

Estoy polvando - I am dusting. Estoy aspiradando - I am sweeping.

• not "real verbs"? I'm afraid I can't agree with you on that. Check with the dictionary. - RachelC Sep 13, 2009
• uhm, they are only now listed as verbs because of the common usage. They update the dictionary every year to reflect this. They start as nouns and are common usaged into verbs. - FTA84 Sep 13, 2009

Answer 3

very seldom used Estoy polvando - I am dusting.........................

seldom used.... Estoy aspiradorando - I am sweeping...... .......

better ...estoy aspirando.....................................

better ...estoy sacudiendo (el polvo ) o estoy recojiendo ( el polvo).......

Answer 4

So if one says estoy sacudiendo, it would be understood as I am dusting?

• "sacudiendo" is more like shaking the dust out of something, not "dusting" as in taking a cloth and removing the dust from the furniture. - --Mariana-- Sep 13, 2009
• Not in Spain - Heidita Sep 13, 2009

Answer 5

One thing I had to get use to while learning Spanish and Gaelic is that, you are in fact learning a new language. More often than not you will not get literal translations. For one thing, we, as English speakers, are use to hearing our adjectives first. We may not even know what someone is talking about for 5 or 6 words if they are a descriptive person. Whereas in Spanish you get the noun first which is kind of nice once you get use to it. Back to my point, remember that this is another language and don't get wrapped up in literal translations. That can drive you crazy.

Answer 6

So if one says estoy sacudiendo, it would be understood as I am dusting?

The answer is yes.

• The answer is no, not in Spain. - Heidita Sep 13, 2009
• Gus, no repitas tus posts, por mucho que lo digas no vas a tener más razón, se entendería en tu pais, en el mio se pensaría que estas haciendo otra cosa....nada que ver con limpiar. - Heidita Sep 13, 2009

Answer 7

Estoy aspirando is possible, Rachel, we prefer to use "pasar la aspiradora" but not estoy polvando, that really sounds weird to say the least. Look up the word "polvo" it has a second meaning to it (number 3 in our dic), if somebody said to me estoy polvando I would certainly think of that other meaning. It is not used like that but I would take it as a joke, I would certainly never think that he/she was dusting.

Aspiradando is simply wrong, the verb is aspirar.

*La palabra aspiradar no está en el Diccionario*.