Gerunds Conjugation

Question

Hi I want to know how is this sentence right without the conjugation (andar es mi pasatiempo favorito por la manaña) without putting it like andando es mi pasatiempo favorito por la manaña. I don't get it.

Answer 1

it allows certain gerund constructions to function as nouns

Not quite. A 'gerund' is, by definition, a verbal used as a noun. Thus in "People riding bicycles on the sidewalk are subject to a fine." there is no "gerund" ("riding bicycles on the sidewalk" is a participial phrase [used as an adjective]). "riding bicycles on the sidewalk" would, however, be a gerund in the sentence "Riding bicycles on the sidewalk is illegal." because the phrase is used as a noun. It is an abuse of terminology (however common) to call both instances of "riding" gerunds.

Bicycle-riding people ................... now it is an adjective - right? - ian-hill, Feb 21, 2011

Yes it is.. bicycle-riding is modifying the noun people. In Spanish gerunds cannot be used as adjectives. - gone, Feb 21, 2011

Answer 2

Hi jamalking

In Spanish you don't use gerundios as we use gerunds in English.

You use the infintive as you did in your sentence "andar es mi pasatiempo favorito por la manaña" and not "walking" as you would in English.

I hope this helps.

Update

Another way to look at this sentences from Samdie

"People riding bicycles on the sidewalk are subject to a fine."

People (who are) riding bicycles on the sidewalk are subject to a fine."

With the "who are" we now have a present continuous verb. ( the verb "to be" + present participle - ing)

The "who are" is understood but not present in the sentence.

Answer 3

Muy bien... Andando would not be correct. English is a very flexible language in that it allows certain gerund constructions to function as nouns. Example: No Smoking. Se prohíbe fumar.

Going back to your example, I was wondering why you picked andar as a pastime? Doesn't caminar sound better to you? Just curious.

If he's like me, he doesn't have any idea why Spanish has two words for *walk* or why one would sound better.. - Sabor, Feb 20, 2011

Nor me :) - ian-hill, Feb 20, 2011

Oh wait, is it because it has 3 syllables instead of two? :) - Sabor, Feb 20, 2011

The ing form of the verb cannot be called a gerund unless it is being used as a noun. The ing form, or present participle, can serve as a noun (gerund) or as an adjective. [in English grammar] - 0074b507, Feb 21, 2011

In the sentence: "He is studying" studying is a gerund and iis used as a verb in the present progressive and not as a noun. - gone, Feb 21, 2011