Estoy Por vs Voy

Question

Estoy por ir a cena - Voy a ir a cena - I am going to dinner.

Is there a subtle difference here that I'm missing.

Answer 1

I agree with Chileno's examples, but they have slightly different meanings.

Estoy por ir a cenar

I am ready at this precise moment to go to supper.

Voy a cenar

I am going to have supper (this could any time in the future).

The "cenar" senario however would not normally be used with the "por" sentence structure, but with a situation of going somewhere, ie: "Estoy por irme a Guadalajara."

Is it always 'por ir' or can it go with other verbs too? - katydew, Oct 6, 2011

'estar por' is the construction, not 'por ir'. You can use any verb that makes sense with 'estar por'. - Jack-OBrien, Oct 6, 2011

Thanks. This is a new one for me. I'm going to practice with it tomorrow in conversation and see how I do. - katydew, Oct 6, 2011

Thanks Julian - croberts, Oct 6, 2011

Answer 2

Nothing subtle. Consider the following.

I am about to go to dinner - Estoy por ir a cenar

I am going to dinner. - Voy a cenar

Thanks Chileno - croberts, Oct 6, 2011