Gerunds as Adjectives

Question

Does this sentence make sense?

Las aviones volandas echan humo rojo y amarillo

Or should it be translated as "Las aviones en volandas..." or another way entirely?

Answer 1

The gerund in Spanish is the third biggest thorn in an English speakers side. Imperfect subjunctive and subjunctive are the biggest, respectively.

If you absolutely want to use the gerund (which I would understand, I really like the gerund), I would say something like this: Mientras volando las aviones echan humo rojo y amarillio.

Otherwise I would say: Las aviones vuelan y echan humo rojo y amarillio.

Except for cases like shown above, you should really try to limit using the gerund because it isn't as common in Spanish as it is in English. Usually it makes its appearance after the word estar: [implied subj.]+estar+gerund

I hope this helped.

Answer 2

I understand "en volandas" for "en vilo", "in the arms of" "in the air" or something like that.

Los aviones volando = the airplanes flying...

EDIT: I am sorry Scott, but there are mistakes in your example for the gerund.

If you absolutely want to use the gerund (which I would understand, I really like the gerund), I would say something like this: Mientras volando las aviones echan humo rojo y amarillio.

Mientras los aviones están volando...

The gerund in Spanish is very easy!

to be (estar) + ing (ando-endo)

What do you know, good catch. Thanks - Vida_de_Scott, May 12, 2013

Answer 3

Cuando vuelen, los aviones echan humo..

Echando humo rojo, los aviones vuelen por el cielo azúl..

Just playing with it, really, it's my bedtime.