Comprando o comprarlo?
Please tell me the difference between "comprando" and "comprarlo." A simple translation says they both mean "buy." Is there a difference in when each would be used?
3 Answers
words with -ando are forming gerundio in spanish i believe, and are used with estar, ex estar comprando - would probably mean "I am buying", present continuous, and comprarlo refers to something you talk about (buying wise) ex. you discuss something in the shop and say "pienso que voy a comprarlo" which means i think i am going to buy it. "lo" refers to the thing you talk about i guess its about right
Jim's right all around.
The verb "to buy" is comprar.
comprando -> (am/are/is) buying
comprarlo - comprar + lo -> to buy it
To use comprando you have to have estar ("to be") with it.
I am buying -> estoy comprando
You are buying -> estás comprando
He/she/it is buying -> está comprando
The "comprando" part doesn't change but you do need to conjugate estar.
I am having trouble with these two verbs, but this helps.
It might help more if you realize it is only one verb, simply in two different forms. The "ando/iendo" in Spanish is like the "ing" in English. The "infinitive+lo/la/los/las" is like "to ___ it/them" in English. Other examples:
Estoy leyendo un libro. I am reading a book.
Quiero leerlo. I want to read it.
Está comiendo frijoles. He is eating beans.
Le gusta comerlos. He likes to eat them.
Estás escuchando una canción. You are listening to a song.
Déjame escucharla. Let me listen to it.
It might help you to imagine yourself in a store, and practice saying some phrases over and over (I do this a lot when I am confused by something. I imagine myself using the word or phrase over and over until it "feels" right).
Veo un sombrero. Quiero comprarlo. Estoy comprandolo.
Veo un plato bonito. Quiero comprarlo. Estoy comprandolo.
¿Miras ese vestido? ¿Quieres comprarlo? Estás comprandolo.
Do an exercise like this for about 15 minutes while you load the dishwasher or fold a load of clothes. Do it about three days in a row. You'll have it down pat, I promise!
