A mi abuelo le gustaba comer leyendo.

Question

What does "comer leyendo" mean? Thanks.

Answer 1

Le gustaba comer: He liked eating. Leyendo: reading

He liked eating while he was reading. He liked reading and eating at the same time.

• Thanks, Heidita. - zhoujian Sep 14, 2009

Answer 2

Since comer is a noun in this sentence what part of speech is leyendo?

I know that there are always exceptions, but isn't the present participle (gerundio) seldom used as a noun or adjective (except for those ante, iente words)?

Answer 3

Since comer is a noun in this sentence what part of speech is leyendo?

I suspect that the situation is similar to English. When an infinitive/gerund is used as a noun, it retains some of its verbal "nature" (e.g. can take a direct object "I like reading books.", can be modified by an adverb "I like eating slowly.", etc.) The gerundio (participle) in Spanish is often used as an adverb and, I think that is the case here (and adverb modifying the "verbness" of comer).

Answer 4

A mi abuelo le gustaba leer mientras estaba comiendo. A mi me gusta tomar copas mientras estoy viendo un partido de fútbol en la tele.

• Ken, estaba comiendo - Heidita Sep 14, 2009