¿que haces? vs. ¿que estas haciendo?

Question

So I'm wondering if these are just interchangeable or if they have different meanings. The way I understand they mean the same, but i'm thinking maybe their use would depend on the situation. Anyways thanks in advance.

-DJ Huero ((( d(-_-)b )))

Answer 1

Hi DJ. I think that they are pretty much interchangeable.

However, "¿Qué estás haciendo?" seems to mean what are you doing right now, and "¿Qué haces?" can mean what are you doing in general. In other words, one is more specifically talking about this very moment.

"¿Qué haces?" can also mean what do you do for a living.

cool thanks - DJ_Huero, Dec 2, 2009

I had overlooked "what do you do for a living?" This is so good for revision. - caza, Dec 2, 2009

Answer 2

Hi DJ Huero,

Grammatically, the distinction is as Marianne has pointed out; i.e. what are you doing (what things/actions have you been doing that have continued into the present) vs what are you doing (right now at this very moment).

Taking that into consideration, are you familiar with the term "code switching?" It is a term that is used to refer to the interchange of words and word structures between two distinct languages as a result of the proximity between the speakers of these languages.

I have read a few papers regarding the phenomenon of code switching in reference to the progressive tenses. In regards to your question, much of what I have read on the matter has contended that the progressive tense is used much more frequently in areas within or near the U.S. where Spanish is spoken. In other areas, the use of the simple present is often preferred over the present progressive, so that in areas where code switching is very prevalent you will find that the progressive ¿Qué estás haciendo? will be used ask the general What are you doing. In areas where code switching does not play as large a role (Spain for example), there is much more of a distinction between the two.

Answer 3

¿Que haces? What are you doing?, present tense.

¿Que estas haciendo? What are you doing right now, present progressive using Estar + Gerundio.

This is my understanding - but as always open to corrections.

Answer 4

I think they are pretty much interchangeable, but I always use the simple present tense ¿qué haces? both for the action that is in progress as well as for general meaning.

However, the present progressive in Spanish is not always identical to that in English. For example, if you say "where are you going?" in English, you would not say ¿adónde estás yendo? in Spanish. I have never heard that from anyone. I am not a native Spanish speaker myself but that sounds a little weird to me. I have only heard ¿adónde vas?

Correct me if I am mistaken.

Answer 5

I think you can use both for the "right now" context.

Answer 6

El presente simple se utiliza para hablar de hábitos y rutinas:

I play soccer on Saturdays (Juego fútbol los sábados) En el ejemplo anterior mi intención es decir que tengo la rutina de jugar fútbol los sábados. No estoy jugando fútbol en este momento, pero mi rutina es practicar este deporte los sábados.

Las palabras clave cuando hablamos el presente simple son: always (siempre), never (nunca), sometimes (a veces), regularly (regularmente), often (frecuentemente), usually (usualmente), rarely (rara vez), entre otras.

El presente progresivo o continuo se utiliza para:

1. Hablar de acciones que están ocurriendo en este momento: I am reading a book at the moment. (Estoy leyendo un libro en este momento)

En el ejemplo anterior mi intención es decir que en este preciso momento estoy leyendo un libro, no estoy hablando de mi rutina sino de algo que estoy haciendo en este preciso instante.

Las palabras clave cuando hablamos del presente progresivo o continuo son: Now (ahora), right now (ahora mismo o en este preciso momento), at the moment (en el momento).

1. Dar énfasis a una acción que se está realizando por un periodo corto de tiempo:

My friend is a teacher but this month he is working as an actor. Mi amigo es un profesor pero este mes él está trabajando como actor.

En el ejemplo anterior mi intención es decir que aunque regularmente mi amigo es un profesor, este mes él está trabajando no como profesor sino como actor. Así pues, estoy dando énfasis a una acción que él está realizando por un periodo corto de tiempo.

Las palabras clave para este uso del presente continuo son: this month (este mes), this week (esta semana), today (hoy), entre otras.

Copiado de http://www.aprenderinglesrapidoyfacil.com/2012/11/15/diferencias-presente-simple-y-presente-progresivo-o-continuo/