I'm sitting / standing

Question

Estoy un poco confundido: I'm sitting significa "estoy sentado" y si quiero decir "estoy sentándome" ¿ entonces digo I'm having a sit? Y qué hay de I'm standing>Estoy de pie, y si quiero decir Me estoy poniendo de pie/levantando (de la posición de estar sentado) ¿Cómo lo diría en inglés?

Agradezco a todos y a cada uno por su contribución. - AntMexico, Nov 24, 2010

You're asking some really good questions Antoine - it's great having someone ask questions from a 'spanish' perspective :) - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 25, 2010

Answer 1

I'm sitting. = Estoy sentado(a). I am sitting down. = Estoy sentándome.

I'm standing. = Estoy de pie. I'm standing up. = Me estoy poniendo de pie.

I have to agree with Jack and Jeezle that 'estoy sentado' would be better translated as 'I am seated' although your version isn't incorrect - I would say being seated definitely better conveys the lack of movement. - Kiwi-Girl, Nov 25, 2010

'I am sitting down' can also mean 'estoy sentado' as can 'I'm standing up' mean 'I'm just over here standing here...' so I do not think you have taken that into consideration. - margaretbl, Nov 25, 2010

Answer 2

I'm sitting may better be said "I'm seated", which is closer to "estoy sentado", I am not in the act of "sitting", but I am currently in that position and I am not moving.

"estoy sentandome" could be said in English as "I am seating myself" (I am currently in the process of seating myself, I'm moving)

Same thing for "standing up"

Estoy de pie = I am standing but "estoy poniendo de pie/levantando" is "I am currently in the act of standing up"

I must say I am displeased with the way this played out. - jeezzle, Nov 24, 2010

Answer 3

Estoy sentado = I am seated. Estoy sentándome = I am in the process of sitting down. Estoy de pie = I am standing. Me estoy poniendo de pie = I am getting up, getting on my feet. Estoy levantando = I am in the process of getting up. The gerund form indicates that the action is incomplete, once you are done "Me estoy poniendo de pie" then you are "estoy de pie". etc...

In English the gerund forms are the same as the regular forms. I am seated = I am sitting but in Spanish that is different.

Of course I could be wrong.

I think you're exactly right :~) - Jack-OBrien, Nov 24, 2010

You as well, ;) Great minds. - jeezzle, Nov 24, 2010

My browser crashed as I was posting so I had to restart and type it all again from that window so I hadn't seen that had posted something already. - jeezzle, Nov 24, 2010

Answer 4

The entire difference depends on whether you are describing the action (of sitting or standing) or the condition of being seated or standing. The distinction is clear in Spanish and blurred in English.

Answer 5

In English the gerund forms are ...

Not gerunds - present participles (used in forming progressive tenses). "seated" is not a gerund, either, it's a past participle.