"The shark swam away"

Question

Could I use the preterite tense to say the shark swam away? Something like this: el tiburón nadó lejos

Would that be right? I'm using the él form because the word shark (tiburón) is masculine but in english we refer to a shark as it, not he. I'm unsure which form of the verb nadar to use.

Please tell me if I'm right or what I should use.

Thanks

Answer 1

El tiburón se alejó (nadando).

I don't think lejos or fuera really fit in here.

The use of the preterite is correct, but I would use alejarse to say "went away". You could use "nadó por otro sitio" or something like that, I guess, but to me the important thing is that the shark went away rather than that it was swimming at the time.

Can you explain why the preterite nadó shouldn't be used? This is kind of confusing for me... - lol768, Dec 4, 2011

OK, thanks. That makes sense. - lol768, Dec 4, 2011

Answer 2

Well...I am not sure of this...but I will give my humble opinion anyways hehe.

As lorenzo9 said, the important thing is that it went away.

So how about "El tiburón se fue nadando." ?

I could be wrong, because I'm not fluent, but I hope it perhaps gives some insight.

estoy de acuerdo :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 4, 2011

kelar eso es correcto también.... - drvicente, Dec 4, 2011

thanx Vicente :) - Kiwi-Girl, Dec 4, 2011

Answer 3

Hi,

I think the preterite use of nadar here is perfect.

However, I am not sure about using lejos here. I would have said

El tiburón nadó fuera.

Vamos a ver.

To me fuera indicates that the shark swam out of the sea, not just away. Alejarse to move away sounds a lot better. - Eddy, Dec 4, 2011

To me too, Eddy, for what it's worth. - annierats, Dec 4, 2011

Answer 4

I'm using the él form because the word shark (tiburón) is masculine but in english we refer to a shark as it, not he. I'm unsure which form of the verb nadar to use.

You will use 3rd person singular no matter whether it is "he, she or it",