Using aprendo vs. estoy aprendiendo

Question

If I want to say that I am currently learning spanish, should I use "Aprendo español" or "Estoy aprendiendo español"? I can not figure this one out

Good question. - --Mariana--, Feb 5, 2013

Answer 1

Good and fair question.

If it's just a general activity, that you're doing, say, this semester, or this year, or some unspecified time, then Aprendo español. They use that in many places we might use the present progressive loosely, i.e. not necessarily Right-Now, at This-Second. Este semestere, aprendo español. Mañana, aprendo español.

What we can´t do in Spanish, is to use their present progressive, for things that are not happening right now. I can´t say. Estoy aprendiendo español mañana.

If someone calls you on the phone will you´re studying and asks what you´re up to, Then, you can say ¨estoy aprendiendo español¨

For them, it has to actually be happening right then, to use the progressive form, whereas we use it for now, later today, tomorrow, or even what we´re doing this year or semester.

Clear as mud?

It worked for me mate , thanks and bien hecho. - ray76, Feb 5, 2013

That answers a lot of my questions. Thanks. - PeterRS, Feb 5, 2013

but isn't it "Estoy aprendiendo"? - PeterRS, Feb 5, 2013

You're right, Peter, good catch! I'm sure that it was a typo on Rogspax part. - --Mariana--, Feb 5, 2013

And thanks for catching it. I just hate to steer someone wrong. Better I should shut my trap. Grrrr. Fixed now. - rogspax, Feb 5, 2013

Yes, botch on my part. I was rushing and typing from my phone, as is often case near class time, and I make more mistakes that way, and doublecheck myself less. Ignore the spelling part from me. ;) - rogspax, Feb 5, 2013

Great explanation and follow up posts amigos! This site is really helping me to learn how native speakers truly talk rather than what my text lists. - pinballandpizza, Apr 9, 2016

Answer 2

It would be more natural to say "estudio español" as a prolonged activity and "estoy estudiando español" when indicating that at this very moment you are studying.

"Aprender" is used to indicate the process of actually understanding something at which time the study of that thing is no longer necessary,ie: "Cada día aprendo algo nuevo".

Thank you for this explanation. I'm learning out of a Living Language text and they list "aprendiendo" for "I'm learning Spanish". I felt that a bit "off" and my research led me here. Muchas Gracias! - pinballandpizza, Apr 9, 2016

Answer 3

Rogspax is right on...

What we can´t do in Spanish, is to use their present progressive, for things that are not happening right now....For them, it has to actually be happening right then,,,

I agree with Julian that "estudio" is much more common to say than "aprendo" in the context you provided.

Answer 4

Muchas gracias amigos. I think I get it now, I will use estudio in that context. Present progressive makes a little more sense to me now as well