Van bajando vs estan bajando
Is there a difference between "Ellos van bajando por la escalera mecánica" and "Ellos estan bajando por la escalera mecánica"?
I have noticed many uses of the verb "Ir" followed by the progressive form of a verb (gerund) directly after it. Is there some nuance that changes the meaning if you use "van bajando" vs "estan bajando"?
2 Answers
Well, the two sentences actually are using two different verbs. The first is "they are going", and the second is "they are descending/they are going down." The verb in gerund form in the first adds a quality to the going. The second is more straightforward in that the gerund IS the main verb.
In other words, the first expresses, more or less, "They are going, descending by escalator" It could be, "they are going, running/screaming/skipping along the way." There's something important or descriptive about the manner or method of going, and the gerund provides that description. "And then, he went, descending the escalator and out of my life." Or maybe, "she left singing my praises."
The other simply says "They are descending by the escalator/they're going down the escalator." Simple action of descending.
One is more descriptive, describing a quality of an action. The other is simply stating an action.
Is there some nuance that changes the meaning if you use "van bajando" vs "están bajando"?
"Bajar" is an action verb, so there is little difference between the two although "van bajando" has a nuance of slightly more activity than "están bajando."
Using "ir" with other verbs, however, can create a rather marked nuance, ie: "van mejorando". This gives us the feeling of some action during the process of getting better where "están mejorando" indicates much less.
