Estan colgados en la puerta

Question

Why is it 'los patines estan colgados en la puerta'? It sounds right but gramatically should I be using the 'gerund'....? If so, then this would mean that it would be 'estan colgandos en la puerta'. Somebody told me that if we are using present progressive in English, eg. running...that you use the gerund, ie. esta corriendo

Could you explain the question, I fail to see the problem.. - annierats, Apr 2, 2013

whats colgandos - Rey_Mysterio, Apr 2, 2013

Hi , I'm sorry, but I'm still very confused. Is there anything wrong with the following "los patines estan colgados" ? - vic5x5, Apr 2, 2013

Answer 1

Why is it 'los patines estan colgados en la puerta'? It sounds right but gramatically should I be using the 'gerund'....?

The sentence is correct. "Colgados" (adjective) indicates a state that the skates are in, or where they are located; they are not doing an action. The only verb here is "están".

To use gerund it would have to be "los patines están colgandose" but this sounds weird because skates don´t have the ability to do anything themselves; they are inanimate objects.

Wow....thanks so much....I will sleep so much better tonight! - vic5x5, Apr 2, 2013

I'm also happy,Julián, because the sentnce seemed quite normal to me. Thanks. - annierats, Apr 3, 2013

Answer 2

It is colgando. As for the present progressive and using the Spanish gerund, in English the gerund form of a verb is extremely common. However, in Spanish the uses of the gerund are quite rare in comparison. As a safe bet, I would try not to use the Spanish gerund unless it follows the verbs estar or ser (and even ser is very uncommon).

I hope this helped!

Ah, you understood the question, I didn't. - annierats, Apr 2, 2013

Edit* Colgandos sorry - Vida_de_Scott, Apr 2, 2013

For every question I understand, I don't understand three others :D, so no worries! - Vida_de_Scott, Apr 2, 2013

Answer 3

With the gerund it would be "colgando" not "colgandos"

Answer 4

The skates are hanging up on the door/ behind the door..

I don't know what the problem is, or is there a hidden meaning here?