What are the rules for exchanging "esta" with "va"

Question

As in the famous song "Looking for Paradise". One of the last lines is "Todo el mundo va buscando ese lugar." Everyone (or all the world ) (is) looking for that (special) place.

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Answer 1

You can think of "va buscando" as "goes looking". "Everyone goes looking for that special place" makes sense, right?

Answer 2

I don't know that there is any rule for this exchange. Both words are used the same. "Va" is simply an idiomatic way to say "Está." I suppose "Va" gives one more of a feeling of ongoing action.

Answer 3

va is 2nd person singular, present indicative of verb ir (to go)

todo el mundo (everybody) is the 2nd person va (goes) buscando (looking) ese lugar (that place)

I know what va means, I am not a beginner. "Va" and "esta" would be considered extremely different in English. "Me voy bien" and "Estoy bien" as jaimetayag listed above. Very different usage, not as simple as va being 2nd person singular. - jeezzle, Feb 5, 2010

"Me voy bien" in my example has always been used as "I'm doing good", "I'm okay", "It's all good". In that sense it's synonymous with "Estoy bien". - jaimetayag, Feb 5, 2010

I'm sure you've heard Anglohablantes ask: "How goes it?" which is, literally "¿cómo te/le va?" - jaimetayag, Feb 5, 2010

sorry but the affirmation above are not correct, first va and estar are not close in spanish even. - juluque, Feb 6, 2010

va is from to go and estar is to be. You never say "me voy bien" that is an incorrect setence. You may say Me va bien which means: It is goes good, things are going good. and estoy bien means I am ok, 2 different concepts. With close meaning... - juluque, Feb 6, 2010

Answer 4

Sure but I don't think that is the rule, because I have heard "va" used in place of "esta" before in other ways. I guess what I am asking is this: Can "va" always be used in place of "esta". Esta comida va bien. Mi amigo Raul va bien, gracias por preguntarme. Can it only be used for esta and never for estoy or estas?

I've hear nativos say "me voy bien". - jaimetayag, Feb 5, 2010