To learn - translation

Question

I dont understand. When I request a translation for "I am taking Spnaish lessons" the following comes back: "Estoy tomando classes de espanol" but when I enter "tomando" into the dictionary it doesnt come back as a word. I have tried "to learn" etc but I dont undestand. Could someone please explain.

Answer 1

Estoy aprendiendo español = I am learning spanish and on the end of that you can say en clase if you want to stipulate where you are learning it you can also say: Asisto clases de español = I attend spanish clases. The verb tomar is not really a good verb to use in the sense of having lessons or instructions etc, it is more suitable to describe having a drink or something to eat etc.

• Thank you for your answer - just what I needed! As you can tell, I am just a beginner! - Georgina30 Nov 16, 2009

Answer 2

Interesting. I typed it into this dictionary and it shows the verb "tomar" and lets you know tomando is the gerund of tomar.

Answer 3

I was going to suggest that it was the word "to" which was causing the problem but the dictionary accommodates this when you enter "to learn" you get aprender. I also entered "tomando" and got "tomar" which is to take. I don´t appear to be having the same problem. Perhap´s you aren´t explaining yourself correctly.

Answer 4

"Estoy tomando classes de espanol" but when I enter "tomando" into the dictionary it doesnt come back as a word.

The usual practice of dictionaries is to provide a "head" word/form and (subsumed descriptions of "obvious" variants e.g. the plural of nouns, the past tense, participles, etc. of verbs). Dictionary writers are usually influenced by the notion of what is "obvious" to speakers of their own language (in other words for a Spanish-speaker, it is obvious that "tomando" is the present participle of "tomar" and they will look for information under the entry for "tomar").

To do otherwise would probably double/treble the size of the typical dictionary (and, probably, its price as well).

Answer 5

i think it s because technically tomando is not a word. it is a gerund of the verb "tomar". this means to take and can be used in many different contexts. also just thought i'd let you know that i think you mean "claSes" not "claSSes".

• "Not a word" is a bit harsh. It may not have a "heading" entry in dictionaries (because it is a regularly derived form of a verb) but that doesn't stopp it from being a "word". - samdie Nov 16, 2009

Answer 6

Estar (conjugated) + gerund = present progressive. I suggest you look this up at lesson 1.12.

Answer 7

The reason for this is because the word "tomando" is a conjugated form of the verb tomar, meaning to take. Tomando alone means taking. So, literally, you're sentence translates out like so: Estoy (I am) tomando (taking) clases (classes - notice only one "s") de (of) español (Spanish - notice the "ñ").

Juist so you know, aprender is one of a few different verbs that mean "to learn".

I hope this helps you. ¡Buenas Suerte! (Good Luck!)

Answer 8

When I look up "tomando" on my Franklin translator, it brings back "tomar" and its definitions. Then I at least know to go looking for the conjugation of tomar. This has helped me a lot, especially with some of the irregular verbs.